Foreign workers employed legally in the U.S. are facing a dilemma about traveling abroad over the holidays, after being alerted by their bosses about possible delays getting back into the country.
Major US technology companies have reportedly issued internal warnings to employees working on H1B and other temporary work visas, advising them to avoid international travel amid growing uncertainty in the U.S. immigration system.
According to internal memos reviewed by Business Insider and NPR, immigration law firms and in-house legal teams for the companies warned affected staff that leaving the United States could result in lengthy waits abroad for visa stamping appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates.
The guidance reflects concerns about lengthy visa processing delays and stricter scrutiny at U.S. consulates abroad.
Some diplomatic posts are facing appointment delays stretching up to 12 months, meaning employees without valid visa stamps risk being unable to return promptly to their jobs.
"We recommend avoiding international travel at this time as you risk an extended stay outside of the U.S," Berry Appleman & Leiden, a law firm that works with Google, wrote to staffers.
"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," Fragomen, which works with Apple, wrote to employees last week. "If travel cannot be postponed, employees should connect with Apple Immigration and Fragomen in advance to discuss the risks."
"This is a valid concern, especially because we have seen how H-1B appointments are postponed in India en masse due to the new social media vetting guidelines at State," Düden Freeman, a former U.S. diplomat and founder of Visas 101, told Newsweek.
"This applies mostly to those with approved status changes / H-1B petitions at the USCIS who are already working in the United States, who are going to need a visa to be able to come back in," she said.
"It's no surprise that companies are advising their workers to not leave the United States because it may possibly be months before they are able to get back in," she added.
The H-1B visa program, widely used by technology companies to recruit highly skilled professionals from abroad, requires holders to obtain visa "stamps" at U.S. embassies or consulates if they travel internationally and seek reentry. Delays in securing these appointments have reportedly led to cases of workers being effectively stranded outside the United States for prolonged periods.
The advisories come as the Trump administration continues to implement tougher immigration enforcement measures. These include expanded background checks, increased application fees, and broader reviews of applicants' digital and social media histories. While administration officials say the changes are intended to strengthen national security and protect US workers, critics argue the policies are creating unnecessary barriers for highly skilled professionals.
In some internal memos, employees were advised to consult immigration lawyers before making any travel plans and to postpone nonessential trips whenever possible. Legal experts warned that even workers with approved petitions could face unexpected delays or additional questioning at overseas consulates.
The U.S. State Department has temporarily suspended a number of H1-B visa appointments in India, attributing the move to operational limitations and the rollout of expanded social media screening for applicants, according to immigration lawyers familiar with the situation. The cancellations have added to existing backlogs at U.S. consulates and increased uncertainty for visa applicants awaiting interviews.
At the same time, the administration has taken steps to tighten legal immigration rules by raising fees for certain visa categories. Among the most significant changes is a new $100,000 charge on H1-B visa petitions. The fee, which must be paid by sponsoring employers, is aimed at curbing what officials describe as misuse of the program and encouraging companies to hire domestic workers.
The measure does not apply to current H1-B holders or to extensions and renewals for workers already in the country. However, critics say the steep increase could discourage employers from recruiting foreign professionals and upend the plans of many prospective applicants.