Google and Apple warn employees to avoid travel outside the U.S.

Law firms representing Google and Apple have reportedly warned that employees who need a visa stamp to re-enter the United States should avoid leaving the country due to longer-than-usual visa processing times. According to a report by Business Insider, which viewed internal memos from the companies’ respective legal representatives, the current immigration climate presents significant travel risks for foreign staff. The publication viewed memos from BAL Immigration Law, the firm representing Google, and Fragomen, the firm representing Apple.

In its memo, Fragomen highlighted the potential for severe travel disruptions. “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,” the firm wrote. The H-1B visa is a US work visa for specialized occupations, and the visa stamp is the physical document required for entry into the country.

These warnings follow reports of widespread disruptions for foreign workers who have already left the country. Salon reported that hundreds of Indian professionals who traveled home to renew their U.S. work visas in December have had their U.S. embassy appointments canceled or rescheduled. These cancellations are reportedly due to new requirements for social media vetting. A State Department spokesperson told Business Insider that embassies are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else.

The current travel advisories echo previous friction between major technology employers and federal immigration authorities. In September, companies issued similar warnings to their workforces. Those advisories followed an assertion by the White House that employers would have to pay a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications. The combination of rising application fees and heightened vetting procedures has created a highly restrictive environment for tech talent requiring visas.

Why it matters

This highlights the friction between tech talent mobility and tightening U.S. immigration scrutiny, creating operational risks for companies relying on workforces requiring visas.