December 19 – Google (GOOGL.O) and Apple (AAPL.O) have quietly advised some of their employees who work in the United States on U.S. work visas to avoid international travel, warning that returning to the country could take many months, and in some cases close to a year. The guidance comes as US embassies and consulates around the world face growing backlogs caused by expanded visa screening procedures, creating uncertainty for thousands of foreign professionals working in the tech sector.
According to internal advisories circulated to affected staff, the problem is not related to job security or visa eligibility itself, but rather to the severe delays in securing routine visa stamping appointments. For employees who leave the US without a valid visa stamp in their passport, reentry depends on attending an in person interview at a US diplomatic mission abroad. At present, those appointments are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain within a reasonable timeframe.
Both companies rely heavily on highly skilled international talent, particularly engineers, researchers, and technical specialists. As a result, even short personal or family trips abroad could now carry serious professional and financial risks for visa holders if they are unable to return to their US based roles as planned.
Visa Processing Delays Prompt Corporate Travel Warnings
Legal advisers representing Google and Apple have played a central role in communicating these concerns. Immigration law firms working with the companies warned that US embassies and consulates in multiple countries are experiencing unusually long wait times for visa stamping appointments. In some locations, delays have reportedly stretched to several months, while in the most congested regions, waits of up to twelve months have been observed.
Employees who fall into this category include those holding H 1B work visas, as well as their dependents on H 4 visas. The warnings also extend to students and exchange visitors under F, J, and M visa categories. For anyone whose visa stamp has expired or who requires a new stamp due to a status change, traveling outside the United States now comes with the possibility of being stranded abroad for an extended period.
The core issue lies in new and expanded vetting measures introduced by US authorities. Visa applicants are now subject to enhanced online presence reviews, which involve screening social media activity and digital footprints as part of the background check process. While the policy is intended to strengthen national security and ensure compliance with immigration rules, it has significantly increased the workload for consular officers.
As embassies adapt to these requirements, appointment availability has tightened. In some cases, previously scheduled interviews have been postponed or canceled altogether, forcing applicants back into already overcrowded queues. Although expedited appointments may be requested, approvals are handled individually and are not guaranteed.
For multinational companies like Google and Apple, the consequences go beyond individual inconvenience. Prolonged absences can disrupt teams, delay projects, and create compliance challenges related to employment authorization and payroll. By advising employees to remain in the US unless travel is absolutely necessary, these firms aim to reduce the risk of unexpected workforce disruptions.
How Enhanced Screening Is Reshaping the H 1B Experience
The current situation highlights how a routine international trip can quickly turn into a prolonged ordeal for foreign professionals. Under normal circumstances, an H 1B visa holder with an approved petition can travel abroad and return to the US without issue, provided they hold a valid visa stamp and meet entry requirements. However, when a new stamp is required, the process becomes far less predictable.
Immigration attorneys note that if a worker leaves the US to attend a visa interview and that appointment is delayed or rescheduled, the individual generally must remain outside the country until the visa is issued. This can result in months away from work, family, and housing arrangements in the United States. In extreme cases, employees may even face project reassignment or role changes due to their prolonged absence.
The broader political and policy environment has also added complexity. The H 1B program has long been a subject of debate in Washington, often framed around concerns about domestic employment and labor market protections. Increased scrutiny and higher compliance standards have made the program more expensive and administratively demanding for employers, while also increasing uncertainty for workers.
Despite these challenges, the H 1B visa remains one of the most important pathways for skilled foreign professionals to work in the US. Each year, the program allows up to 85,000 new workers to enter the American labor market, and technology companies consistently rank among the largest users of these visas. In recent years, firms such as Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta have depended on the program to fill specialized roles that are difficult to staff domestically.
Government officials maintain that the enhanced vetting process is necessary to ensure applicants fully meet legal requirements and intend to comply with the terms of their visas. They emphasize that thorough review now takes precedence over processing speed, even if it leads to longer wait times. Applicants are encouraged to monitor appointment systems closely and request expedited handling only when truly justified.
For now, the advice from corporate legal teams remains clear. If international travel is not essential, staying within the United States is the safest option for visa holders. Until consular backlogs ease and appointment availability improves, even a brief trip abroad could result in months of uncertainty.
As global mobility becomes more restricted by administrative hurdles rather than physical borders, the experience of visa holding employees at major tech firms underscores a broader shift in how immigration policy affects everyday professional life. For many foreign workers, patience and caution have become just as important as professional skills in navigating the US immigration system.