Apple, Google, Microsoft warn visa-holding staff to avoid overseas travel

US visa

Google, Apple, Microsoft, and enterprise software firm ServiceNow have advised some employees on US work visas to avoid travelling abroad, warning that lengthy visa-processing delays could leave them stranded outside the country for months.

According to internal memos reviewed by Business Insider, immigration law firms representing the companies have told staff who need visa stamping to re-enter the US that embassy and consulate backlogs are worsening, with wait times reportedly reaching up to 12 months in some locations.

In a memo sent on Thursday, BAL Immigration Law, which represents Google, cautioned employees that “significant visa stamping appointment delays” are being reported across multiple US embassies and consulates. The firm warned that international travel could “risk an extended stay outside the US” and recommended postponing non-essential trips.

Apple issued a similar warning through Fragomen, its immigration law firm. In a memo circulated last week, employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp were strongly advised to avoid leaving the US due to the possibility of “unpredictable, extended delays” when attempting to return. Staff who could not defer travel were urged to consult Apple’s immigration team in advance.

Microsoft has also taken steps to monitor the situation closely. In a memo sent by Jack Chen, the company’s associate general counsel for immigration, employees already stuck abroad due to rescheduled visa appointments were asked to report their circumstances directly to the company. For those still in the US, Microsoft advised staff to “strongly consider changing” upcoming travel plans, noting that there are limits on performing US-based work while outside the country.

The company is also collecting data from affected employees through an internal survey to better understand the scope of the issue, including which consulates are impacted and how long delays are lasting.

ServiceNow, meanwhile, told employees stranded overseas to contact their managers as soon as possible to discuss exceptions to its 30-day Work from Anywhere policy. The company said it would review such exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

The delays appear to be linked to enhanced social media screening requirements introduced for visa applicants, including H-1B workers, their dependents, and students on F, J, and M visas. A spokesperson for the US Department of State confirmed on Friday that it is conducting “online presence reviews for applicants” and said visa appointments may be rescheduled as resources shift.

“While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world are now prioritising thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else,” the spokesperson said. Immigration firms report that appointments have been postponed in countries including India, Ireland, and Vietnam.

Immigration attorneys say the situation complicates what would normally be routine travel. H-1B workers who leave the US to renew a visa stamp typically must apply at a US embassy or consulate abroad. If their appointment is delayed or cancelled, they may be unable to return until the visa is issued.

“My advice to clients is that if travel isn’t essential right now, it’s better to stay put,” said Jason Finkelman, an immigration attorney specialising in employment-based visas.

The issue echoes a previous wave of corporate travel advisories issued in September, following the Trump administration’s introduction of a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas. The programme, capped at 85,000 new visas annually, remains a crucial pipeline for skilled foreign workers in the tech sector.

In the 2024 fiscal year, Alphabet applied for more than 5,500 H-1B visas, Microsoft nearly 5,700, and Apple close to 3,900, according to publicly available government data. ServiceNow filed 578 applications in the same period.

Under the Trump administration, the H-1B programme has become increasingly politicised, with officials arguing it undermines US jobs. Critics and employers, however, say the tightening of rules and increased scrutiny are making it harder, slower, and more expensive to hire global talent.