Google, Apple Caution H-1B Workers Against Overseas Travel Due To Visa Backlog

Google and Apple are warning employees on H-1B visas to avoid foreign trips, as long visa stamping backlogs at United States embassies and consulates could leave staff stranded abroad and unable to work. Prolonged processing times are disrupting assignments for foreign professionals and raising anxiety among workers who had planned international travel.

According to Business Insider, immigration law firms advising both companies have sent internal notes outlining the risks. Staff who require a fresh H-1B visa stamp for re-entry after travelling outside the United States are being urged to reconsider plans, because appointment queues at many posts now stretch for several months.

H-1B visa travel delays trigger strict warnings from Google and Apple

BAL Immigration Law, which advises Google, flagged the problem in a recent memo shared with employees. BAL wrote, "Please be aware that some US Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months." The firm cautioned that overseas trips could lead to extended absences from the United States and missed work commitments.

The BAL memo also warned that travelling during such delays could "risk an extended stay outside the U.S.", as staff may fail to secure interview slots in time. Fragomen, the law firm supporting Apple, issued a similar alert. Its note said, "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."

H-1B visa travel delays deepen amid policy changes and higher costs

Both Google and Apple have noticed more travel-related problems for H-1B workers in recent months, as visa processing times lengthened across many countries. These latest alerts follow earlier guidance shared in September, when several large technology employers expressed concern after the White House revealed a proposed $100,000 fee for each H-1B visa application filed by companies.

The H-1B visa route lets United States firms employ highly skilled foreign workers in roles such as engineering, data science, and software development. Large technology companies, including Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, rely on thousands of these professionals. For many of them, travel decisions now involve balancing family needs against serious career risks created by visa appointment shortages.

H-1B visa travel delays linked to tighter screening and vetting rules

Business Insider reported that United States authorities have widened social media and online presence checks for H-1B workers, family members, and students. These extra security steps are slowing renewals worldwide. Many applicants now face longer waits for interviews and visa stamping, even when documents are in order and employment is stable.

A United States State Department spokesperson told Business Insider that officers now place security above speed. The spokesperson said, "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 prioritising thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else." Officials added that urgent requests may still get faster slots.

The same spokesperson noted that consular posts can consider quicker appointments individually, depending on medical, professional, or humanitarian needs. However, these exceptions are not guaranteed. For most H-1B applicants, the standard queues remain long, which complicates planning for personal events such as weddings, family emergencies, and year-end holidays.

Reports cited by Salon suggest that the tighter screening rules have already disrupted the plans of hundreds of foreign workers. Many Indian nationals who travelled home in December to renew their United States work visas saw their consular appointments cancelled or rescheduled. These workers now face extended stays in India, extra living costs, and uncertainty about when they can return to employers.

The delays are hitting H-1B visa holders who had scheduled year-end trips particularly hard. Without a valid visa stamp, employees cannot board flights back to the United States, even if their jobs and approvals remain intact. Rebooking interviews can take months because of the backlog. Immigration attorney Jason Finkelman told Business Insider, "If travel isn't essential right now, better to stay put."

Many companies that depend on H-1B workers are now revising internal travel guidance. Some are asking staff to postpone non-urgent trips until appointment wait times ease, while others provide support on emergency options and documentation. Google and Apple continue to track embassy conditions, warning that extended H-1B visa travel delays are likely to persist into 2025.