Google and Apple employees on H-1B visas are being advised not to leave the United States, as re-entry delays could stretch far longer than expected. The warning, issued through immigration law firms working with both companies, answers a pressing question many foreign workers are asking: Is it safe to travel internationally right now? For now, the answer appears to be no. Lawyers say renewed visa stamping appointments are increasingly unpredictable, raising the risk of employees getting stuck abroad. The guidance reflects growing uncertainty around US immigration processing. It also highlights how policy shifts can quickly affect the global tech workforce. For affected workers, even short trips home now carry serious professional risks.
According to reports first shared by Business Insider, Google and Apple have separately alerted some employees through their legal partners, BAL Immigration Law and Fragomen. The message is clear and cautious rather than alarmist. Employees who lack a valid H-1B visa stamp are being told to postpone international travel whenever possible. Lawyers emphasize that delays are not guaranteed, but they are increasingly common and hard to predict. Even routine renewals can face sudden rescheduling or extended administrative processing. For companies that rely heavily on global talent, the disruption could ripple across teams. The warnings aim to protect employees from being unintentionally sidelined.
The slowdown has been tied to stricter visa screening measures introduced under the Trump administration. Enhanced vetting, including expanded social media screening, now affects H-1B workers, students, and other visa categories. While officials have not framed the changes as a freeze, the practical impact has been significant. Processing timelines that once took weeks can now stretch into months. Immigration experts say the lack of transparency adds to anxiety among visa holders. Workers often cannot tell whether a delay is routine or something more serious. This uncertainty is fueling corporate caution.
The situation appears especially challenging for Indian professionals, who make up a large share of H-1B holders in the US tech sector. Hundreds who traveled to India late last year to renew visas reportedly saw their appointments canceled or postponed. Some US embassies are now facing backlogs of up to a year. For employees, this can mean extended time away from jobs, families, and income. Employers also face gaps in critical roles. The issue underscores how global talent pipelines depend on consistent visa processing. When delays spike, the effects are felt on both sides of the border.
US officials have acknowledged the growing delays while defending the approach behind them. A State Department spokesperson said embassies and consulates are prioritizing thorough vetting over faster processing times. The shift represents a change in emphasis rather than an explicit policy overhaul. Officials argue that careful screening is essential for national security. Critics counter that the lack of additional staffing worsens existing bottlenecks. For visa holders, the reasoning matters less than the outcome. Long waits remain the reality.
For Google and Apple, the warnings reflect broader adjustments to an unpredictable immigration environment. Companies are increasingly factoring visa risks into workforce planning and travel policies. Some teams are delaying international conferences or overseas meetings. Others are redistributing workloads to reduce dependency on cross-border travel. These changes show how immigration policy can quietly reshape corporate operations. The guidance is also a sign of employers taking a more proactive role in employee compliance. Prevention, in this case, is seen as better than damage control.
The current advice may be temporary, but it signals longer-term caution for foreign workers in the US. Immigration attorneys expect delays to continue unless processing capacity expands or policies shift again. For now, H-1B holders are urged to stay informed and consult legal counsel before making travel decisions. The situation remains fluid, with timelines changing by location and case type. What feels like a personal inconvenience is part of a larger policy picture. For thousands of tech workers, global mobility has become a calculated risk rather than a given.
𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.
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