Apple, Google warn employees with H-1B visas to avoid international travel

Tech companies Google and Apple have advised employees holding H-1B visas to skip international trips because of prolonged waits at U.S. embassies for visa renewals.

The alerts come after the U.S. State Department rolled out enhanced social media checks on December 15, leading to appointment backlogs of up to 12 months at consulates worldwide.

Workers without current visa stamps in their passports face the chance of getting stranded abroad if they leave the country and need to reapply for entry.

A memo from BAL Immigration Law, which handles cases for Google, stated:

"Please be aware that some US Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months."

The firm added that the holds affect H-1B visas along with H-4 for dependents and student categories like F, J and M. Berry Appleman & Leiden, another firm working with Google, sent a separate note saying:

"We recommend avoiding international travel at this time as you risk an extended stay outside of the U.S."

For Apple, the law firm Fragomen circulated guidance last week to affected staff.

The message read:

"Given the recent updates and the possibility of unpredictable, extended delays when returning to the U.S., we strongly recommend that employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp avoid international travel for now. If travel cannot be postponed, employees should connect with Apple Immigration and Fragomen in advance to discuss the risks."

The State Department has confirmed the new vetting process prioritizes case reviews over quick turnaround times, with a spokesperson telling reporters that consular posts now focus on thorough checks of each application.

The U.S. Embassy in India, a key site for many tech workers renewing documents, noted on Monday that applicants should expect extra processing periods for these visa types.