Big Tech Companies Warn Employees on Visas to Avoid International Travel Amid Immigration Uncertainty
Major tech companies, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, and ServiceNow, have issued warnings to their employees who are in the United States on visas, advising them to avoid traveling outside the country due to uncertainty surrounding changing immigration policies and procedures. This cautionary measure comes after the Trump administration expanded travel bans and intensified vetting and data collection for visa applicants earlier this month.
The new policy includes screening the social media history of some visa applicants and their dependents, a move that has led to significant delays in visa stamping appointments. U.S. consulates have started rescheduling appointments for future dates, with some as late as summer 2026, leaving employees who require these appointments unable to return to the U.S. in a timely manner.
Delays and Rescheduling of Visa Appointments
An email sent by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLC, the immigration firm representing Google, noted that some U.S. Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, with wait times currently reported as up to 12 months. The advisory recommended that employees avoid international travel at this time. Microsoft’s memo also highlighted that much of the rescheduling is occurring in India, in cities such as Chennai and Hyderabad, with new stamping dates as far out as June 2026.
Microsoft advised employees with valid work authorization who were traveling outside the U.S. for stamping to return before their current visa expires. Those still in the U.S. and scheduling upcoming travel for visa stamping were strongly advised to consider changing their travel plans. Similarly, Apple’s immigration team recommended that employees without a valid H1-B visa stamp avoid international travel for the time being.
Impact on H-1B Visa Holders
The H-1B visa program, which allows employers to sponsor work visas for individuals with specialized skills, is particularly affected by these changes. Big Tech companies such as Amazon, Google, and Meta have consistently been among the top recipients of H-1B approvals, with Indian nationals being the largest beneficiaries of the program, accounting for 71% of approved H-1B petitions.
Proponents of the H-1B program argue that skilled worker immigration has been instrumental in making the U.S. a technological leader, with nearly half of the Fortune 500 companies founded by immigrants or their children, creating jobs for native-born Americans. However, critics argue that the program has been exploited by companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.
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