A Reddit post from an H1-B visa applicant has raised concerns over delayed US visa stamping and increased scrutiny of social media activity.
The applicant claimed their visa interview was delayed after the consular officer asked about their social media accounts, and a week later, their passport was returned without a visa stamp with a notice mentioning 'Social media – Open to Public – no deletions.'
Commenters questioned the meaning of 'no deletions,' with some suggesting applicants should not remove social media content during administrative checks.
The discussion comes amid a broader debate around the H1-B visa programme, which allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.
Immigration lawyers note that a 221(g) refusal is not always a permanent denial and that administrative processing may be completed for approval.
The US has required most visa applicants since 2019 to disclose social media identifiers used during the previous five years as part of the DS-160 application process.
