Google and Apple have warned some employees to avoid leaving the United States amid growing concerns over visa processing delays, according to a report from Business Insider.
BAL Immigration Law and Fragomen warn that visa processing at U.S. consulates abroad has become significantly longer and less predictable, increasing the chances that employees could face extended delays returning to the country.
In its memo, Fragomen advised that recent changes and the risk of lengthy, unpredictable re-entry delays mean employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp should avoid traveling abroad for the time being.
The warnings draw attention to increasing challenges for foreign-born tech workers on H-1B visas. If their visa stamp expires while they are outside the U.S., they must renew it at a U.S. embassy or consulate before re-entering.
According to a report from Salon, the root of the problem appears to be the rollout of new, intensive vetting requirements. The State Department is now mandating more rigorous checks of visa applicants’ social media histories.
Salon reports that hundreds of Indian professionals who traveled home in December to renew their U.S. work visas have had embassy appointments canceled or rescheduled.
A State Department spokesperson told Business Insider that embassies have shifted their priorities toward more thorough vetting of each visa application, a change that has turned once-routine renewals into processes with no clear timeline.
The warnings have direct consequences for many tech employees, restricting travel for family visits and international business. Companies like Google and Apple also face operational disruptions and potential morale issues as a result.
The delays arrive amid persistent debate over skilled-worker immigration policy. The H-1B program has faced scrutiny over its scope and governance, and the latest security-driven processing slowdowns effectively add friction to an already constrained talent pipeline.
With U.S. consulates mired in uncertainty, a once-predictable administrative step now carries the risk of costing an employee both a job and a foothold in the country.
Maybe you would like other interesting articles?