Tech giants are bracing for potential disruptions as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and ServiceNow have cautioned employees on visas to avoid international travel. The warnings stem from escalating uncertainty surrounding evolving U.S. immigration policies and procedures.
Visa Holders Advised to Stay Put Amid Policy Shifts
Big Tech firms are urging visa-dependent employees to remain in the U.S. due to significant delays and increased scrutiny in visa processing.
- Following an incident in Washington, the administration broadened travel restrictions and intensified vetting processes for visa applicants.
- U.S. consulates are experiencing substantial appointment delays, with some dates pushed out to summer 2026.
- The enhanced screening now includes reviewing the social media activity of some applicants and their family members.
The shift follows the Trump administration’s expansion of travel bans earlier this month, prompted by an attack on National Guard members in Washington. The administration simultaneously increased data collection and vetting for visa applicants, now incorporating the screening of social media history for some applicants and their dependents.
Shortly after the announcement, U.S. consulates began rescheduling visa appointments, with some new dates extending as far as summer 2026, effectively preventing many employees from returning to the U.S. in a timely manner. “Please be aware that some U.S. Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months,” an advisory from immigration firm Berry Appleman & Leiden LLC, which represents Google, stated. The firm recommended “avoiding international travel at this time.”
Microsoft’s internal memo highlighted that much of the rescheduling is concentrated in India, specifically in Chennai and Hyderabad, with new appointment slots opening no sooner than June 2026. The company advised employees with current work authorization traveling for visa stamping to return before their existing visas expire. Those still in the U.S. planning future travel for stamping were urged to “strongly consider” altering their plans.
Apple’s immigration team echoed this advice, recommending that employees lacking a valid H1-B visa stamp refrain from international travel for the time being. ServiceNow, a business software company, issued a similar advisory, encouraging those with valid visa stamps to return to the U.S.
Microsoft declined to provide further comment on its memo. Apple, Google, and ServiceNow did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The companies specified that the delays due to enhanced screening affect H-1B, H-4, F, J, and M visas.
Understanding the H-1B Visa
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialized occupations. Capped at 85,000 new visas annually, it serves as a crucial pathway for American tech companies to recruit skilled professionals, such as software engineers. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta consistently lead in H-1B approvals, with Indian nationals receiving approximately 71% of the approved H-1B petitions.
H-1B visas are distributed through a lottery system, a process critics argue has been exploited by companies to substitute American workers with lower-cost foreign labor.
In September, the administration initially announced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B hires. However, following substantial opposition, the administration clarified that the fee would only apply to employers hiring foreign nationals who were not already present in the U.S.
The H-1B program has become a divisive issue, even within the right wing of the political spectrum. While figures like Elon Musk and David Sacks advocate for strengthening skilled immigration, the core MAGA base generally opposes it.
Supporters of the program emphasize that skilled immigration has been instrumental in establishing the U.S. as a technological leader, noting that nearly half of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, generating employment opportunities for native-born Americans.
