• Source:JND
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US Visa Appointments: The US Embassy in India has issued a strong advisory to visa applicants, warning that anyone who appears at an embassy or consulate on a previously scheduled interview date, after receiving a reschedule notice, will be denied entry. In a post on X, the embassy said that applicants who receive emails about changed interview dates must arrive only on the updated appointment. “Arriving on your previously scheduled appointment date will result in your being denied admittance to the Embassy or Consulate,” the advisory stated. 

The warning follows notices sent by the US Consulate Chennai and the US Consulate Hyderabad, which informed affected applicants not to attend their original interview appointments.

The Chennai consulate said that it had reduced the number of daily appointments due to “operational constraints” and the need to ensure that visa holders do not pose risks to US national security or public safety.

New Social Media Vetting Adds To Delays

The rescheduling push comes as the US Department of State rolls out stricter social media screening for H-1B applicants and their H-4 dependents. From December 15, applicants will be required to set their social media profiles to public, allowing officials to review online activity as part of background checks.

This policy, which was earlier limited to student and exchange visas, is expected to slow down processing and create disruptions for both applicants and US employers.

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Wait Times Fall 

Despite heightened scrutiny, recent data show that visa wait times for Indian applicants have started to ease. The window for securing F, M, and J visa appointments in New Delhi has fallen sharply, from about two months to roughly two weeks.

In Chennai, wait times have fluctuated dramatically. While B-1/B-2 visitor visa wait times were previously close to five months, the category is now listed as “N/A” in the latest update, signalling ongoing adjustments.

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