Google, Apple warn visa-holding staff against international travel amid embassy delays

Google and Apple have advised some employees holding U.S. work visas to avoid international travel as U.S. embassies and consulates face backlogs for visa stamping, according to internal memos reported by Business Insider on Friday. The notices come amid broader administrative changes that have accelerated vetting of visa applicants and tightened screening procedures.

The advisories apply to holders of H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visas, Google said in its memo, which described appointment delays at several U.S. missions of up to a year. The warnings underscore the risk that workers could be stranded outside the United States if visa appointments are postponed for extended periods.

Immigration law firms representing the companies said the delays stem from new social media screening requirements introduced for visa applicants, a change that has been cited by several express concerns from tech employers. The backlogs amplify the risk for employees who need timely stamping to return to U.S. assignments or to begin new work. The advisories highlight the practical challenges posed by a policy shift that intersects with global talent flows in the technology sector, where employers rely heavily on skilled workers from abroad.

The development comes as the Trump administration this month announced intensified vetting of H-1B visa applicants, including social media checks, and as the year has seen heightened scrutiny of visa programs. The H-1B program, widely used by the technology sector to hire skilled workers from India and China, has drawn particular attention after the introduction of a substantial filing fee for new petitions this year. The notice of heightened scrutiny and the related processing delays have fed concerns among companies about project timelines and team continuity across borders.

In September, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, had strongly advised its employees to avoid international travel and urged H-1B visa holders to remain in the United States, according to Reuters. The current advisories from Google and Apple appear to be a continuation of that stance, reflecting the growing practical impact of visa policy changes on day-to-day operations in the tech industry.

The situation adds another layer of uncertainty for technology companies that rely on a global workforce to fill specialized roles. Analysts note that any sustained delays in visa stamping can affect project staffing, deployments, and collaboration across international teams. Google and Apple did not respond immediately to Reuters' requests for comment.