Major tech companies including Google, Apple, Microsoft and ServiceNow have advised some visa-holding employees to avoid international travel amid consular appointment delays of up to 12 months. The slowdowns follow a new State Department social media screening and expanded vetting that affect H-1B, H-4, F, J and M categories. Employers are collecting impact data, offering limited policy exceptions and urging staff to consult immigration counsel before traveling.
Google, Apple and Microsoft Advise Some Visa Holders Not to Travel as Consular Delays Stretch Up to 12 Months
Major U.S. tech employers — including Google, Apple, Microsoft and enterprise software firm ServiceNow — have warned some employees holding U.S. visas to avoid international travel because routine visa-stamping appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates are experiencing significant delays, in some cases up to 12 months, according to internal memos reviewed by Business Insider.
What Companies Are Saying
Legal teams representing these firms have been contacting staff who need a visa stamp to re-enter the United States, advising them to remain in the country until processing stabilizes. A memo circulated by BAL Immigration Law, which represents Google, said: "Please be aware that some U.S. Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months," and recommended postponing nonessential travel to avoid an extended stay outside the U.S.
Fragomen, the immigration firm advising Apple, issued a similar notice urging employees without a valid H-1B stamp to avoid international travel and to consult Apple Immigration and Fragomen before departing if travel is unavoidable.
Microsoft's guidance, sent by Jack Chen, the company's associate general counsel for immigration, asked employees who are already abroad with rescheduled appointments to report their situations so the company can provide support. Microsoft also asked employees in the U.S. to "strongly consider changing" travel plans, noting prolonged absences could limit the ability to perform work tied to a U.S. role.
ServiceNow's Global Mobility Team told employees stuck overseas to contact managers to discuss potential exceptions to the company's 30-day Work From Anywhere policy; exceptions will be reviewed case-by-case.
Why Appointments Are Delayed
The delays follow the State Department's rollout of a new social media screening requirement and a broader shift toward more thorough vetting at consular posts. The additional "online presence" reviews apply to H-1B visa holders and their dependents as well as F (student), J (exchange visitor) and M visa categories, and immigration attorneys have pointed to the new checks as a reason many routine appointments are being rescheduled or postponed.
A State Department spokesperson told Business Insider that consular posts are conducting "online presence reviews for applicants" and that appointment dates may be moved as resources are reprioritized. Applicants can request expedited appointments on a case-by-case basis.
Who Is Affected
Google's memo explicitly listed H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visa categories as being affected. Immigration firms also reported postponed appointments in countries including India, Ireland and Vietnam.
Practical Impact And Advice
Immigration attorneys warn that enhanced vetting can turn what used to be a routine trip into a lengthy disruption. If an H-1B worker leaves the U.S. to obtain a new visa stamp and their consular appointment is canceled or delayed, they may be stranded abroad until the visa is issued. Immigration attorney Jason Finkelman advised clients: "If travel isn't essential right now, better to stay put."
The State Department emphasized that consular officers "do not issue a visa unless the applicant can credibly demonstrate they meet all requirements under U.S. law — including that they intend to engage only in activities consistent with the terms of their visa."
Context And Numbers
The H-1B program, capped at 85,000 new visas per year, remains a key channel for employers hiring skilled foreign workers. During the 2024 U.S. government fiscal year, Alphabet (Google's parent company) applied for 5,537 H-1B visas; Apple applied for 3,880; Microsoft applied for 5,695; and ServiceNow applied for 578, according to Business Insider's analysis of public Department of Labor and USCIS data.
Under the current administration, the H-1B program has become politically contentious: the White House has framed some reforms as protecting U.S. jobs, while critics and many employers argue recent policy changes have made hiring foreign talent more difficult and costly.
Bottom line: Employees who need a new visa stamp should weigh the risks of travel carefully, consult their employer and immigration counsel, and consider postponing nonessential trips until processing times improve.
