Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-12-22 08:37Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration is expanding social media scrutiny to various visa categories, significantly delaying the visa application process for foreign workers, particularly affecting H-1B visa applicants from India [1][4]. Group 1: Visa Application Process - The U.S. government has introduced new social media review requirements for certain visa applicants, extending the scrutiny to all H-1B visa applicants and their families starting from September 15 [1]. - The review process has led to a significant reduction in daily visa appointment slots at U.S. embassies, with some applicants facing delays of up to a year for their interviews [1][2]. - Immigration lawyers have described the visa application process as a "maze," with unpredictable cancellations and delays affecting many applicants [1]. Group 2: Impact on Indian Applicants - Indian H-1B visa holders are particularly affected, with over 70% of H-1B visas issued to Indian citizens according to USCIS data [4]. - Many visa interviews originally scheduled for December have been postponed to between March and June of the following year, impacting thousands of applicants [4]. - Applicants have expressed concerns about remote work, separation from family in the U.S., and canceled job interviews due to these delays [4]. Group 3: Company Responses - Major tech companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple have warned their employees holding H-1B visas to reconsider international travel plans due to the delays in visa processing [6]. - Microsoft has advised employees stuck abroad to report their situations and consider changing their travel plans, as work related to their U.S. positions may be restricted during this period [6]. - The expansion of social media scrutiny is part of a broader trend, with plans to require social media history from travelers from visa-exempt countries, affecting many regions including Europe and Asia [6].