Law firms representing Google and Apple have warned that employees who need a visa stamp to re-enter the United States should avoid leaving the country due to longer-than-usual visa processing times.
Memos from BAL Immigration Law, which represents Google, and Fragomen, which represents Apple, reportedly advised employees to postpone international travel until processing times normalize.
“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,” the Fragomen memo reportedly stated.
A State Department spokesperson said embassies are “now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else,” indicating a shift toward more intensive screening procedures.
Reports indicate that hundreds of Indian professionals who traveled home to renew their U.S. work visas in December have had their U.S. embassy appointments canceled or rescheduled due to new requirements for social media vetting.
Both companies, along with other large tech employers, issued similar warnings in September when the White House announced that employers would have to pay a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications.
The warnings create significant complications for employees on work visas who may need to travel for family emergencies, weddings, funerals, or other personal reasons. Being told to avoid leaving the country effectively traps workers in the United States for indefinite periods.
The H-1B visa stamp requirement means that even workers with approved H-1B status must visit a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad to get a physical stamp in their passport before they can return to the United States. Without that stamp, re-entry is impossible regardless of their valid work authorization.
The extended processing times mean workers who leave for what should be routine visa renewals could find themselves stuck abroad for weeks or months waiting for appointments and approvals. This creates professional risks as workers might miss critical deadlines or lose their jobs if they can’t return promptly.
The social media vetting requirements represent a new layer of scrutiny that consular officers must complete before approving visa applications. Reviewing years of social media posts, associations, and communications takes considerable time, contributing to the delays.
The December timing for the canceled appointments was particularly cruel for Indian professionals who planned trips home around the holiday season. Many likely booked expensive flights, arranged family gatherings, and made commitments they now cannot fulfill.
The embassy appointment cancellations and rescheduling suggest the State Department implemented new procedures without adequate staffing or systems to handle the increased workload. Embassies in high-volume locations like India process thousands of visa applications monthly.
The $100,000 H-1B fee announced in September represents a massive increase from previous costs and signals the administration’s hostility toward the program that tech companies rely on for specialized workers. The fee alone could discourage companies from sponsoring visas.
Google and Apple issuing similar warnings in September indicates this isn’t a sudden crisis but an ongoing deterioration of the visa system that has progressively worsened over months.
The law firms’ memos demonstrate that corporate legal teams see significant risk in employees traveling. These aren’t casual suggestions but urgent warnings about serious consequences.
