Indian H-1B visa holders returning to India for work permit renewals are facing significant disruptions due to the U.S. State Department’s intensified social media vetting procedures, leading to widespread appointment cancellations from December 15-26. This policy, which now affects H-1B applicants and their H-4 dependents, has left many professionals stranded, with immigration lawyers reporting at least 100 clients affected. The U.S. government’s new measures, seen as part of the Trump administration’s immigration curbs, threaten job stability for skilled workers as companies experience talent shortages. This episode highlights the tension between immigration enforcement and the U.S. economy’s reliance on India’s skilled labor, raising concerns about the long-term implications for America’s innovation landscape.