Learn the Memos Tech Companies Despatched Visa Staff Warning Them To not Journey

The world’s largest know-how firms are scrambling to handle a rising disaster affecting 1000’s of their staff on work visas, as new social media screening necessities set off delays at US embassies and consulates worldwide.

Google, Apple, Microsoft, and ServiceNow have all despatched advisories to visa-holding staff in latest days, warning them in opposition to worldwide journey and describing appointment delays stretching as much as a yr.

The memos, despatched by immigration regulation companies representing these firms or by their inner authorized groups, paint an image of mounting uncertainty for overseas employees who kind a important a part of the tech trade’s workforce.

The warnings come as American embassies have postponed routine visa stamping appointments, leaving some staff already overseas unable to return to work within the US for prolonged intervals.

For H-1B holders, the first work visa utilized by tech firms, the scenario creates a very tough bind. If their visa stamp expires and so they journey overseas, they need to acquire a brand new stamp at a consulate earlier than re-entering the US. With appointments now being rescheduled months into the longer term, what would sometimes be a routine journey house has turn into a possible profession disruption lasting as much as a yr.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the Division of State informed Enterprise Insider it was now conducting “on-line presence evaluations for candidates.” The division mentioned it might transfer appointments as assets change, with candidates capable of request expedited slots on a case-by-case foundation.

“Whereas previously the emphasis might have been on processing circumstances shortly and lowering wait instances, our embassies and consulates all over the world, together with in India, are actually prioritizing completely vetting every visa case above all else,” the State Division spokesperson mentioned. Appointments in Eire and Vietnam have additionally been postponed, based on immigration agency Reddy Neumann Brown PC.

Under are the complete texts of the interior memos despatched to staff at these firms, obtained by Enterprise Insider, which reveal how company America is responding to the visa processing slowdown.

Google declined to remark, whereas Microsoft, Apple, and ServiceNow didn’t reply to requests for remark from Enterprise Insider.

Microsoft

Under is the textual content of a memo despatched by Jack Chen, Microsoft’s affiliate normal counsel for immigration.

Replace #1 on H-1B/H-4 Visa Appointment Rescheduling and Stamping Delays

Hello everybody,

As shared yesterday, some U.S. consulates are rescheduling current H-1B/H-4 visa appointments and pushing dates out by a number of months. This is what we all know:

• Rescheduling notifications are concentrated in Chennai and Hyderabad, with some unverified reviews from different consulates. New dates are as far out as June 2026.
• The delays stem from operational constraints tied to the new on-line presence evaluation for H-1B/H-4 visas, efficient December 15, which reduces every day processing capability. We’re additionally listening to that these consulates wanted time to implement new vetting procedures.
• We’ve no confirmed reviews of rescheduling for different visa varieties but. Whereas solely H-1B/H-4, F, J, and M visas are topic to the web presence evaluation, we predict secondary impacts on general processing might emerge.
• We do not know if rescheduling is ongoing, for these whose unique visa appointments haven’t been modified.

Some staff have already traveled for appointments and acquired rescheduling notices with out warning; others are getting notices earlier than departure. To set expectations, it’s extremely unlikely emergency appointments can be granted, given the circumstances.

It is a quickly creating scenario. Right here is our preliminary steering, which we’ll replace as we be taught extra. Please learn this subsequent part fastidiously—I’ve tried to simplify it, however the particulars do matter:

For these presently exterior the U.S.:

• You want a brand new visa stamp + your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled months later: We’ll contact you. Please comply with the directions under to report your scenario (even in the event you’ve already contacted AskUSI).
• Your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled BUT you continue to have some validity left in your present visa stamp: In case your visa is for the right work-authorized class, return earlier than your present visa expires. This example applies for individuals who had scheduled visa appointments as a result of their visas are expiring quickly, not earlier than the return to the U.S. is deliberate.

For these nonetheless within the U.S.:

• You’ve gotten upcoming journey + will want a brand new visa to return + your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled months later: It is best to strongly contemplate altering your journey plans. You can not return till your new visa stamp is issued, and it is extremely unlikely that the appointment might be moved earlier. And there are limitations to your means to carry out work in your U.S. position throughout that interval. See Microsoft International Mobility Payroll and Tax Compliance Coverage.
• You’ve gotten upcoming journey + will want a brand new visa to return BUT your H-1B visa appointment has not been rescheduled: There’s danger your appointment may very well be moved throughout your journey and lead to you being caught overseas. Issue this into your determination. We’re nonetheless studying extra about how widespread and important delays are in different consulates.

For different visa classes (not H-1B/H-4, F, J, M): Proceed as deliberate for now, however notice issues can change shortly.

HOW YOU CAN HELP US IDENTIFY TRENDS

To trace real-time impacts, we’d like information from staff whose appointments have been rescheduled or could also be quickly. This can assist us establish:

• Which consulates are affected
• When notifications of rescheduling are being despatched
• Size of delays
• Whether or not different visa varieties are impacted

You probably have a visa appointment scheduled with a U.S. consulate for any visa class, we have created a survey the place you’ll be able to share these particulars with us. And importantly, the survey permits you to replace your responses—for instance, if you have not been rescheduled once you initially full this survey, however subsequently obtain a rescheduling notification. This manner can also be the clearest method for us to establish staff who’re presently exterior the U.S. and can’t return till a brand new visa stamp is issued: Census of Upcoming Visa Stamping Appointments — Fill out kind

We’ll share out insights based mostly on these responses and additional info we’re capable of collect by the tip of the week.

For workers presently caught overseas—we all know that is an anxious second. We’ll present clear and orderly steering to you straight as quickly as we are able to.

Google

Under is the textual content of an e-mail despatched by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), the immigration agency that represents Google.

Hello everybody,

Please remember that some U.S. Embassies and Consulates are experiencing important visa stamping appointment delays, presently reported as as much as 12 months.

As a result of excessive demand and enhanced screening for H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visas, visa processing is taking longer than regular. For those who require a brand new visa stamp to re-enter the U.S., we suggest avoiding worldwide journey at the moment as you danger an prolonged keep exterior the U.S.

We encourage you to evaluation go/bal-travel-advisory. You probably have any questions, attain out to schedule a session with a BAL lawyer at go/getsupport.

Thanks,

BAL

Apple

Under is the textual content of an e-mail despatched by Apple’s immigration group.

Given the latest updates and the potential of unpredictable, prolonged delays when returning to the US, we strongly suggest that staff and not using a legitimate H-1B visa stamp keep away from worldwide journey for now. If journey can’t be postponed, staff ought to join with Apple Immigration and Fragomen upfront to debate the dangers.

ServiceNow

Under is the textual content of an e-mail despatched by ServiceNow’s International Mobility Workforce.

Potential cancellation of US consulate appointments for H-1B and H-4 visa holders

International Mobility replace

What to know

The US State Division has introduced that some consulate appointments for people holding H-1B and H-4 visas are being canceled because of a newly applied evaluation course of that examines candidates’ on-line presence, together with social media exercise.

This transformation primarily impacts overseas nationals with appointments scheduled on or after December 15, 2025, at US consulates in India who require visa stamps to return to the USA. Nevertheless, it might additionally affect different visa varieties and consulates sooner or later.

Please see the Fragomen shopper alert right here.

Notification course of

In case your appointment is affected by this course of change, you’ll obtain an e-mail from the consulate with a cancellation discover and a brand new appointment, which in some circumstances may very well be as late as November 2026.

For those who’re exterior the U.S. proper now

• For those who want a brand new visa stamp and your H-1B visa appointment has been delayed by a number of months: Attain out to your supervisor as quickly as doable to debate whether or not an exception to the 30-day Work from Anyplace coverage is warranted.
• In case your H-1B appointment has been delayed, however your present visa stamp continues to be legitimate: In case your visa class permits you to work within the U.S., we suggest you come earlier than your present visa expires.

Exceptions and emergency appointments

In case your appointment has been cancelled or rescheduled, it’s possible you’ll apply for an emergency expedited appointment in the event you meet one of many following standards:

1. Demise within the household
2. Medical want / Household Emergency
3. Potential lack of substantial income, earnings, or contracts for the corporate

We’ve heard that the expedited consulate appointment course of is leading to an earlier appointment, so you’re inspired to do this method by finishing the request kind. Please evaluation the Expedited Consulate Appointments web site for extra particulars.

Working from India or any location utilizing the Work from Anyplace exception

If delay would materially affect income/contracts or there is a medical/household emergency, ServiceNow will evaluation and approve exceptions to the 30-day Work from Anyplace tips on a case-by-case foundation.

Journey steering

For those who’re planning journey, please seek the advice of with Fragomen for steering earlier than making any preparations. You probably have upcoming journeys to India that require a consulate appointment for visa stamping to return to the U.S., we suggest cancelling these plans. In any other case, you danger important delays in securing an appointment to use for a visa stamp.

Help

You probably have questions on consulate appointment cancellations or upcoming journey, you’ll be able to attain out to Fragomen via the Fragomen Messenger characteristic throughout the Fragomen Join Portal or submit a request to the International Mobility group.

The International Mobility Workforce

Have a tip? Contact Pranav Dixit through e-mail at pranavdixit@protonmail.com or Sign at 1-408-905-9124. Use a private e-mail deal with, a nonwork WiFi community, and a nonwork gadget; this is our information to sharing info securely.