India And China Travelers Visa Crippled By US Screening Rules, Sending Shockwaves Across Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, And Philippines With Google New Travel Advisory: Everything You Need To Know

Published on December 22, 2025

India and China are facing the most severe disruptions from the US’s newly implemented visa screening rules, leaving travelers in both countries struggling with unprecedented delays and cancellations. The new measures, which include extensive social media vetting and background checks, have triggered a ripple effect across Asia, impacting countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines, with applicants now facing longer processing times and heightened scrutiny. Google’s new travel advisory has further intensified concerns, urging employees with work visas to avoid international travel due to the risk of being stuck outside the US for months. In this article, we’ll break down the country-specific impacts, provide essential details on the ongoing disruptions, and explore what travelers need to know to navigate these unprecedented delays.

The US visa application process has been heavily disrupted since the US State Department‘s announcement of enhanced screening measures in December 2025. As part of efforts to ensure national security, the new rules have added significant delays and extended processing times for H-1B and H-4 visas, particularly impacting countries with high volumes of applicants. While India and China face the greatest delays, other Asian nations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines are also feeling the strain. Here’s a country-wise breakdown of how the new visa screening measures have affected applicants worldwide.

India: The Epicenter of Visa Delays

India, the country with the highest number of H-1B visa applications, has become the epicenter of disruptions caused by the new US visa rules. Since December 15, 2025, US consulates in India have been experiencing significant backlogs and delays in visa processing due to the introduction of online presence reviews and heightened scrutiny of social media activity.

• Extended Wait Times: Visa applicants in India now face wait times extending from several months to as much as 12-18 months. Many appointments, initially scheduled for late 2025, have been rescheduled to March 2026 or later due to the reduced daily capacity of consular offices conducting the new reviews.
• Mass Cancellations: Applicants have reported cancelled visa appointment slots and delays in interviews, particularly those requiring H-1B and H-4 visa stamps. The backlog has been compounded by the third-country processing restrictions, meaning Indian nationals needing visas have limited options for applying outside of India.

The most affected sectors include technology, healthcare, and engineering, where H-1B visas are in high demand. Companies such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft have warned their employees to avoid international travel, as they risk being stranded without the necessary visa stamps for re-entry.

China: Rising Scrutiny and Logistical Issues

China, the second-largest source of H-1B applicants, is also facing significant disruption. With rising tensions around US-China relations, the enhanced screening rules have compounded delays for Chinese nationals applying for US work visas.

• Social Media Scrutiny: China has seen an uptick in heightened scrutiny due to the social media vetting that accompanies the new visa process. Applicants are required to submit detailed social media history for the past five years, leading to additional delays.
• Appointment Cancellations: Many applicants have faced cancellations for visa stamping appointments. The delays are particularly severe in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, which handle a large portion of the applications.

While consular operations in China remain active, the backlog has been exacerbated by the need for more thorough reviews under the new policy, which leads to several weeks of additional waiting time for those seeking to return to the US.

Thailand: New Delays and Growing Backlogs

Thailand, traditionally one of the regions that processes a large number of work and student visa applications, is now seeing its consular operations affected by the new US visa rules. Thai nationals who wish to apply for or renew their work visas are facing longer processing times and are increasingly finding it difficult to secure timely appointments.

• Online Presence Reviews: Applicants from Thailand are facing challenges similar to those in India and China, particularly the added burden of social media checks. As a result, the processing time for work visas has almost doubled, with applicants now waiting an average of 6-9 months.
• Uncertainty in Appointment Scheduling: The issue of third-country processing is also affecting applicants who may not be able to travel to nearby countries like Singapore for an interview. As of December 2025, several applicants have reported the difficulty of finding available slots for visa appointments.

Vietnam: Delays and Backlog Challenges

In Vietnam, the impact of the new US visa screening rules has been felt especially among H-1B applicants. The country has witnessed delays in visa appointments and a backlog of applications, which has caused frustration for workers and companies relying on international talent.

• Third-Country Processing Restrictions: The new third-country processing restrictions mean that Vietnamese applicants who had been planning to complete their visa interviews in neighboring countries like Thailand are now facing significant hurdles. These applicants are forced to wait in long queues or face cancellations, pushing their appointments into 2026.
• Heightened Scrutiny of H-1B Applications: With a significant portion of Vietnam’s H-1B applicants coming from the tech and engineering sectors, the tightening of visa rules has impacted the ability of tech giants to recruit foreign talent, leading to significant delays in processing.

Japan: Facing Delays in High-Demand Areas

Japan has also been affected by the new US visa screening rules, though to a lesser extent than India or China. However, applicants in high-demand sectors, particularly technology and finance, are encountering longer wait times.

• Increased Vetting: Japan has seen delays in processing due to the expanded vetting rules, which require applicants to provide more detailed social media histories and other personal information. This process, while important for security, has led to longer delays for applicants seeking to visit or return to the US.
• Appointment Constraints: With a rise in applications following the lifting of travel restrictions, Japanese consulates are also struggling to accommodate the increased demand for visa appointments. Interviews for H-1B visa applicants are now delayed by several months, and some have had their appointments pushed into 2026.

Philippines: Processing Delays Due to Social Media Checks

The Philippines is also facing its share of difficulties, with delays in processing visa applications and growing backlogs at US consulates.

• Social Media Vetting Challenges: Like other countries, the new social media vetting policy has extended the time required to process applications. Filipino nationals, who represent a growing share of H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, are finding their applications delayed by weeks, if not months.
• Appointments Delayed: Many applicants are reporting cancellations and reschedules, as the consulates are overwhelmed by the volume of applications that need to go through the new screening process.

Taiwan: Rising Delays Amid New Visa Rules

Taiwan is another country impacted by the tightened US visa application process. Taiwanese nationals applying for H-1B and H-4 visas are experiencing longer delays and limited appointment availability.

• Delays in High-Demand Sectors: As with other Asian countries, the high-tech industry in Taiwan is heavily impacted by the delays in H-1B visa processing. Many professionals in the semiconductor and electronics sectors are finding that their visa appointments are pushed into 2026.
• Social Media Scrutiny: Taiwanese applicants are now required to undergo more stringent social media reviews, leading to additional delays for individuals who need to meet specific security criteria.

Key Impacts: US Visa Screening Rule Changes and Travel Warnings

The new screening policies, effective December 15, 2025, have caused a ripple effect across Asia, particularly in countries with high volumes of H-1B and H-4 visa applications. The US State Department has confirmed that these changes are global in scope, with all applicants now subject to enhanced background checks. The travel advisory from Google has made it clear: employees and their families should avoid international travel for the foreseeable future, as they may be unable to return to the US due to visa processing delays.

Visa Delays Across Asia: A Country-by-Country Breakdown

What Applicants Can Do

While these delays continue to impact workers and their families, there are steps applicants can take to manage the situation:

• Prepare early: Given the extended wait times, applicants are advised to start their visa application process well in advance to avoid missing travel deadlines.
• Request expedited processing: In cases of urgency, applicants may request expedited appointments, though these requests are only approved in limited circumstances.
• Stay informed: Keep track of any changes to appointment scheduling and visa processing by frequently checking with local consulates or embassy updates.

The new US visa rules and social media vetting have significantly slowed down the visa issuance process, especially for H-1B and H-4 applicants. While India and China remain the most affected, other countries across Asia are also seeing increasing delays. Applicants must adjust their travel plans accordingly and prepare for a prolonged wait as the situation continues to unfold.

The introduction of enhanced visa screening rules by the US State Department has caused significant disruptions to the visa application process, particularly for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants. While India and China bear the brunt of these delays, other high-demand countries in Asia, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan, are also feeling the impact. The extended wait times, increased scrutiny, and third-country processing restrictions have led to frustration and uncertainty for applicants, especially those in sectors heavily reliant on international talent, like technology, healthcare, and engineering.

As visa appointments are rescheduled or cancelled, workers and their families are left with limited options for travel, with Google and other tech giants warning employees to avoid international travel for fear of being stranded outside the US. For now, applicants are advised to prepare early, stay informed on any updates, and consider requesting expedited processing in cases of urgency. However, with no immediate resolution in sight, the situation is expected to continue well into 2026, making it crucial for both individuals and businesses to adapt to this new reality of visa processing.

India and China are bearing the brunt of the US’s new visa screening rules, leading to severe delays and cancellations. These disruptions are sending shockwaves across countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines, with Google’s travel advisory urging caution for international travel.

The global ripple effect of these delays highlights the critical need for more efficient visa processing systems, especially for countries with high numbers of applicants. Until then, applicants must remain patient and prepared for ongoing disruptions.