The US State Department began social media checks on visa applicants from December 15. Since then, candidates no longer get immediate visa approvals or rejections. Instead, everyone receives a 221(g) slip after their interview. The slip means a decision is pending, not a denial. Visa officers ask if social media accounts were public, and the visa status updates online later. Reddit users report varied timelines. Some saw "approved" status by day-end, while others wait days. Officers often keep passports during review. According to Reddit, if the passport stays with the officer, approval may come sooner. If returned, the wait could be 2-3 months. A 221(g) slip is issued under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It means the visa is temporarily refused until additional steps or documents are provided. Slips come in different colors, but now nearly all are white, signaling pending social media vetting. Experts say slip color does not decide outcomes; only written instructions do. The social media vetting hit H-1B and H-4 visa appointments hard. Many Indian H-1B holders who traveled home for stamping found their appointments suddenly deferred to April or May 2024. Those who must get new stamping before returning to the US are stuck in India, worried about their jobs. This new vetting layer is causing uncertainty and long waits for Indian visa applicants, especially in tech roles relying on H-1B visas.