US tech giants advise H-1B workers to avoid international travel
The H-1B visa permits foreign nationals to work in specialty roles in the US, generally for up to three years, with extensions requiring visa stamping at US embassies or consulates overseas.
Delays in routine appointments have surged following a new social-media screening process for H-1B holders and their dependents, as well as international students and exchange visitors.
Internal memos reviewed by reports indicate that companies are warning employees of potential disruptions. BAL Immigration Law, representing Google, noted that delays at some US consulates could reach up to 12 months, cautioning that travelers risk “an extended stay outside the US.” Apple advised staff without valid H-1B stamps to postpone trips, while Microsoft suggested employees still in the US “strongly consider changing” their travel plans.
A spokesperson for the State Department said embassies and consulates are now “prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else.”
The travel advisories follow Trump’s return to a stricter immigration stance since January, including measures targeting illegal immigration. In response to attacks on National Guard soldiers in Washington, additional restrictions were introduced, such as suspension of asylum processes and expanded entry bans affecting nationals from 19 countries. The Diversity Immigrant Visa program, or Green Card Lottery, has also been suspended after authorities linked a recent shooting suspect to entry through this system.
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