Why do H-1B applicants get 221(g) slips? US social media checks explained

New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 17, 2025 04:52 IST

The US State Department's expanded social media vetting for skilled worker visas quietly took effect on December 15, but early applicants are already seeing its impact -- including delays, passport seizures and administrative refusals.

A Reddit user on Monday detailed his experience at the US consulate in Chennai on the very day the new screening rules kicked in for H-1B and H-4 visas. Instead of an approval or rejection, applicants were issued a 221(g) slip.

The applicant, who had applied to renew his H-1B visa, said he arrived at the Chennai consulate around 8:30 am and finished his interview within half an hour. After routine security checks and fingerprinting, H-1B and H-4 applicants were separated into a dedicated queue.

"While standing there, it hit me we are probably the select few -- guinea pigs -- piloting the new vetting process," he wrote. "Unfortunately, that theory held up."

According to the post, a woman ahead of him was asked twice whether all her social media accounts were set to "public" before being handed a white 221(g) slip. She was told the consulate needed more time to review her application.

QUESTIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWS CONSUMPTION

When his turn came, the Redditor said the visa officer first asked standard questions about his employment before turning to his online presence. He was asked whether his social media profiles were public and whether he had been following the news.

Soon after, he too was issued a white 221(g) slip and informed his case would undergo administrative processing. His passport was retained, and the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website later showed his visa status as "REFUSED" — a common placeholder during 221(g) reviews.

WHAT DOES 221 (g) REFUSAL MEANS

A refusal under Section 221(g) of the US Immigration and ity Act does not amount to a visa denial.

It indicates that the consular officer does not yet have sufficient information to approve the application. This can happen either because additional documents are required or because the case has been placed under administrative processing for further review.

Applicants typically receive a coloured 221(g) slip -- white, blue, pink or yellow -- each indicating a different next step. A white slip, such as the one issued in Chennai, generally signals that more time is needed and no immediate action is required from the applicant.

If additional documents are requested, applicants have up to one year to submit them. Administrative processing timelines vary widely and can stretch from days to several months.

POLICY EXPANDS SCRUTINY TO SKILLED WORKERS

The State Department has confirmed that from December 15, it will review the social media activity of all H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents. Until now, mandatory social media screening largely applied to student and exchange visitor visas under the F, M and J categories.

"To facilitate this vetting, all applicants are instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public'," the department said in its directive.

The move is part of the Trump administration's broader push to tighten entry standards and expand security screening across visa categories.

The Reddit user also noted that his wife, who applied separately on the same day at the Hyderabad consulate, initially saw her status marked as "REFUSED" before it later changed to "APPROVED".

Another Reddit user privately confirmed similar experiences at Hyderabad, suggesting inconsistent timelines across consulates as the new process rolls out.

The State Department has not provided estimates for how long the added administrative processing may take, raising concerns among applicants facing work disruptions and travel uncertainty.

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