Employees at some of the world’s most prominent technology firms have been caught in the crosshairs of sweeping changes to U.S. visa processing, as Google, Apple, Microsoft, and ServiceNow have all urged staff on work visas to avoid international travel. The warnings, delivered in a series of memos from the companies’ immigration law firms and reviewed by Business Insider, come amid unprecedented delays in visa stamping appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide—delays that can now stretch up to a year.
The heart of the issue? A recently introduced requirement for social media screening of visa applicants, which has led to longer and less predictable processing times. According to memos sent by BAL Immigration Law (representing Google) and Fragomen (representing Apple), these delays are now severe enough that employees risk being stranded outside the United States if they travel without a valid visa stamp. As BAL Immigration Law noted in its December 18, 2025 memo, “Please be aware that some US Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months.”
Fragomen, Apple’s immigration counsel, echoed the concern in a memo sent to staff last week: “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 firm further advised, “If travel cannot be postponed, employees should connect with Apple Immigration and Fragomen in advance to discuss the risks.”
Other tech giants have followed suit. Microsoft’s associate general counsel for immigration, Jack Chen, acknowledged in a memo that some employees are already “stuck abroad” due to rescheduled visa appointments and promised to provide “clear and orderly guidance” as soon as possible. ServiceNow’s Global Mobility Team, in a December 18 message, asked affected staff to contact their managers to discuss possible exceptions to the company’s 30-day Work from Anywhere policy, which would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The new social media screening rules, which affect not only H-1B workers and their dependents but also students and exchange visitors, have thrown a wrench into what was once a relatively routine process. As Business Insider and Salon report, hundreds of Indian professionals who traveled home to renew their U.S. work visas in December have had their embassy appointments canceled or rescheduled. Immigration firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC has documented similar postponements in Ireland and Vietnam. Google’s memo specifically listed H-1B, H-4, F, J, and M visa categories as affected by the delays.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State confirmed to Business Insider that the government is now prioritizing “thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else,” noting, “While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else.” The spokesperson added that consular officers “do not issue a visa unless the applicant can credibly demonstrate they meet all requirements under US law—including that they intend to engage only in activities consistent with the terms of their visa.”
Applicants can request expedited appointments on a case-by-case basis, but as resources shift, appointments may be moved or delayed. The State Department also confirmed that it is conducting “online presence reviews for applicants,” a reference to the new social media screening process that has become a sticking point for many applicants.
The impact of these changes is not theoretical. “Employees risk an extended stay outside the US” if they travel without a valid visa stamp, BAL Immigration Law warned in its memo. The risk is not limited to Google and Apple: Microsoft’s memo advised employees to “strongly consider changing” travel plans if they do not have a valid visa stamp, noting, “There are limitations to your ability to perform work for your US role during that period.”
Neither Google nor Apple has publicly commented on the advisories, though Google’s memo did not address how individuals already abroad with postponed appointments should proceed. Apple, Microsoft, and ServiceNow did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
The current wave of travel warnings is not the first time tech employers have sounded the alarm about visa policy changes. In September 2025, following the Trump administration’s announcement of a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications, companies issued similar advisories. Immigration attorney Jason Finkelman, who specializes in employment and family immigration, told Business Insider, “My advice to clients is that if travel isn’t essential right now, better to stay put.”
The H-1B program, which is capped at 85,000 new visas annually, has long been a cornerstone for U.S. tech firms hiring highly skilled foreign workers, especially from India and China. According to Business Insider’s analysis of Department of Labor and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data, Alphabet (Google’s parent company) applied for 5,537 H-1B visas, Apple for 3,880, Microsoft for 5,695, and ServiceNow for 578 during the 2024 government fiscal year. The program has become a political flashpoint, with the Trump administration framing H-1Bs as a threat to American jobs, while critics and some employers argue that new policies—including hefty fees and enhanced vetting—have made it harder and more expensive to hire overseas talent.
For many tech workers, the new reality means weighing the risk of being stranded abroad against the need to visit family or attend to personal matters overseas. The uncertainty is compounded by the lack of clear guidance for employees already outside the U.S. with postponed appointments. As Microsoft’s Jack Chen put it, “For employees currently stuck abroad, we know this is an anxious moment.”
Beyond the tech sector, the ripple effects of these changes are being felt by students, exchange visitors, and their families, all of whom face the prospect of lengthy delays and unpredictable outcomes. The heightened scrutiny of social media accounts is part of a broader trend toward increased vetting of visa applicants, a policy shift that has accelerated under the current administration.
For now, the message from America’s tech giants is clear: if you’re on a work visa and considering a trip abroad, it may be wise to stay put. With embassies and consulates worldwide prioritizing security and thoroughness over speed, what used to be a routine journey home could turn into an open-ended exile.
