Google and Apple reportedly warn employees on visas to avoid international travel

Google and Apple Warn Visa Holders: Avoid International Travel Now

Google and Apple have warned employees who require a visa stamp to re-enter the United States to avoid international travel because visa processing times are taking longer than usual.

What the Memos Say

Law firms representing the companies — BAL Immigration Law for Google and Fragomen for Apple — issued guidance after reviewing evolving consular practices.

Fragomen (Apple) guidance

• "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."

BAL Immigration Law (Google)

BAL Immigration Law sent similar warnings to Google employees advising caution about outbound travel if they need a visa stamp to return.

Why This Is Happening

• U.S. embassies and consulates are prioritizing thorough vetting of each visa case, according to a State Department spokesperson.
• New screening requirements, including social media vetting, have caused appointment cancellations and rescheduling.
• Recent policy changes and additional employer-related fees have created uncertainty and longer processing windows.

Reported Impacts

• Salon reports hundreds of Indian professionals who traveled home in December to renew U.S. work visas experienced canceled or rescheduled embassy appointments due to social media vetting requirements.
• Tech companies previously issued similar travel cautions in September after the White House announced an employer fee change for H-1B applications.

Company Responses

• TechCrunch has contacted Google and Apple for comment; official replies were not included in the memos cited.

Pro tip: If you hold an H-1B or other U.S. work visa that requires a stamp, postpone nonessential international travel until you confirm embassy appointment availability and processing timelines.

FAQ

• Q: Which employees should avoid travel?
  A: Employees who need a visa stamp (e.g., H-1B) to re-enter the United States should avoid international travel until processing stabilizes.
• Q: Why are appointments being delayed or canceled?
  A: U.S. embassies are intensifying vetting, adding requirements like social media checks, and reprioritizing case reviews.
• Q: Did Google and Apple always give this warning?
  A: Similar warnings were issued in September when additional employer fees and policy changes introduced new uncertainty.

Sources: internal memos from BAL Immigration Law and Fragomen as reported by Business Insider; Salon reporting on embassy appointment impacts; State Department statement to Business Insider.