In light of recent policy changes by the Trump administration, tech giants such as Google and Apple have issued warnings to their employees on visas about the risks of international travel. According to internal memos reviewed by Business Insider, workers who require a visa stamp to re-enter the US should avoid leaving the country due to "significant visa stamping appointment delays" currently reported to be up to 12 months. The memos, sent by immigration law firms such as BAL Immigration Law and Fragomen, counsel that travel could result in an "extended stay outside the US."
Moreover, a memo from Microsoft's associate general counsel for immigration, Jack Chen, urges employees currently abroad to report their situation and cautions those in the US planning to travel internationally to strongly consider changing their plans. ServiceNow has communicated similar guidance to their staff, advising afflicted employees to reach out to managers to discuss potential exceptions to its Work from Anywhere policy. These companies are actively seeking insights into the real-time impacts of these delays, gathering data better to understand the extent and nature of the disruptions. As reported by NPR, the two tech firms' counsel that some of the affected workforce might "risk an extended stay outside of the U.S."
These advisories come as American consulates and embassies around the world grapple with the backlog of visa appointments following new vetting requirements. The Department of Homeland Security now requires a social media screening covering up to five years of applicants' history. A Department of State spokesperson has emphasized the shift to prioritizing thorough vetting over quick processing, citing a commitment to national security. The spokesperson for the Department of State told Business Insider, "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 tech industry is acutely feeling the strain due to its dependence on foreign talent. During the 2024 government fiscal year, figures analyzed by Business Insider show that Alphabet and Apple applied for thousands of H-1B visas, which are vital for tech companies to hire skilled foreign workers. The current heightened vetting procedures and delays are exacerbating the difficulties created by policies instituted under the Trump administration, such as the $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas. Amid these complications, the Alphabet Workers' Union at Google has been advocating for additional protections for visa holders, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of these employees under the current administration, as stated by Google software engineer Parul Koul to NPR.
Neither Apple, Google, Microsoft, nor ServiceNow has offered detailed instructions for their employees who are already abroad and facing postponed appointments. The embassies' focus on security is clear, with appointments in not just India but also Ireland and Vietnam being affected. While the companies involved declined to comment on their advisories when approached by Business Insider and NPR, the shared sentiment across firms is one of caution in the face of significant bureaucratic uncertainty, advising workers on visas to stay within the US borders for now.
