The U.S. Department of State has announced a significant expansion of its social media vetting program, effective March 30, 2026. Applicants in a wide range of nonimmigrant visa categories will now be subject to online presence review and are being instructed to make their social media profiles " public " to facilitate this process. This update can be found here . Key Takeaway: If you are applying for any of the newly listed visa categories, you must set all social media ac

The U.S. Consulate General Mumbai will be conducting offsite consular services in Ahmedabad on April 21–22, 2026. 🔹 Services Available (By Appointment Only): • U.S. Passport applications • Notary services • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) 🔹 Priority will be given to: • Minor passport applicants (under age 16) • Minors with a previous U.S. passport applying for their first adult passport • Notary services and CRBA applicants (in-person required) 🔹 Adult Passport Rene

1. I have been arrested before. Can I travel to the U.S. visa‑free (ESTA / Visa Waiver Program)? If you have ever been arrested, you should not assume you are eligible for visa‑free travel under ESTA or the Visa Waiver Program or valid visa on your passport. Most travelers with an arrest history must apply for a U.S. visa so a consular officer can review their criminal record and decide if they are admissible. 2. Do I need a U.S. visa even for a minor or old offense? In ma

Following the introduction of enhanced social media vetting for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants effective December 15, 2025, U.S. consular posts in India began rescheduling previously confirmed appointments to significantly later dates, ranging from March 2026 to May 2027. First Wave of Cancellations (December 15, 2025 – January 2026) As part of the first wave of cancellations, appointments scheduled between December 15, 2025, and January 2026 were impacted in the following mann

Key Policy Provisions Biometric Services Appointment (BSA) Definition Photographs are collected during Biometric Services Appointments (BSA) at Application Support Centers (ASC) or through other USCIS-approved submission methods authorized by agency policy. 36-Month Reuse Limitation USCIS may reuse a previously collected BSA photograph only if no more than 36 months (3 years) have passed since the photograph collection date at the time of filing the benefit request. USCIS Dis