Tech giants warn visa holders off international travel amid U.S. stamping delays

Late in December 2025, several major U.S. technology firms advised employees holding U.S. work and student visas to avoid international travel because visa stamping appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates are experiencing significant delays. Companies including Google, Apple, Microsoft and ServiceNow circulated guidance through immigration law firms and in-house counsel warning that routine trips could result in prolonged waits outside the United States.

The advisories said some consular posts have appointment backlogs reported to be as long as 12 months, and urged affected staff to postpone nonessential travel or consult corporate immigration teams before leaving the U.S. These memos and internal notes underscore how consular delays are creating tangible risks for the global workforce of major tech employers.

What tech firms told employees

Google circulated a notice via immigration firm Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL) telling employees: « Please be aware that some U.S. Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months. » That language appeared in reporting on late-December advisories (Business Insider).

Apple’s guidance, delivered through Fragomen, was even more explicit for certain categories: « 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. » Microsoft’s associate general counsel Jack Chen authored internal guidance asking staff to « strongly consider changing » planned travel and to report if stranded abroad.

ServiceNow and other employers circulated similar cautionary counsel. These corporate memos arrived via law firms and in-house counsel as employers scrambled to manage employee risk and operational continuity amid expanding consular vetting and appointment backlogs.

Who is affected: visa categories and the risks

The advisories specifically named visa categories at heightened risk: H‑1B and H‑4 (skilled-worker and dependent visas), along with student and exchange categories F, J and M. Employers and immigration firms warned that holders across these classifications could face long waits for stamping.

Immigration lawyers emphasized that even employees who previously held valid visas may be unable to secure a timely consular appointment for a new or renewed stamp. That creates a real practical risk of being delayed or denied re-entry if travel requires routine stamping or renewal while abroad.

Firms recommended postponing nonessential travel, consulting corporate immigration teams before departing, and considering alternatives such as remote work or domestic travel where feasible to reduce the chance of being stranded outside the U.S.

Geographic hotspots and appointment backlogs

Reports identified India as a prime hotspot for rescheduling and long waits, with cities such as Chennai and Hyderabad among those experiencing heavy backlog and appointments reportedly pushed into mid-2026 , in some accounts as far out as June or summer 2026. India’s concerns have also been raised at diplomatic levels.

Other countries with notable postponements included Ireland and Vietnam, where consular resources and new vetting practices have slowed routine stamping. Companies flagged that local appointment calendars can change quickly as posts reallocate resources and conduct additional screenings.

Where available, expedited interview slots remain an option on a case-by-case basis, but employers cautioned that those are limited and not a reliable solution for large numbers of affected staff.

Why consular posts are delaying appointments

The U.S. State Department told reporters that many consular posts are conducting « online presence reviews for applicants » and are now « prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else. » The expansion of social-media and online-presence screening, part of new vetting measures rolled out in 2025, has lengthened processing times for routine stamping.

These enhanced checks coincide with other 2025 policy changes affecting H‑1B procedures, including higher fees for new petitions, which together have contributed to heightened scrutiny and additional workload at consular posts worldwide (Reuters).

Consular resources, staffing and shifting priorities mean appointment dates can be moved as posts balance security reviews with service demands. That operational reality is a central driver of the current visa stamping delays.

Corporate responses and employee support

Companies have taken multiple steps to support affected employees. Microsoft and ServiceNow asked staff to report incidents and are collecting data to understand the scope of disruptions; Microsoft’s memo acknowledged « this is an anxious moment » for employees impacted by the backlog.

Employers and immigration firms urged employees to contact corporate immigration teams before traveling and to seek legal counsel where travel cannot be postponed. Some employers are evaluating exceptions and internal accommodations for critical travel, but cautioned that consular outcomes remain outside company control.

Immigration law firms and corporate counsels have emphasized proactive planning: verifying current visa status, confirming whether a valid stamp is required for re-entry, and documenting the necessity of travel in hopes of making a stronger case for expedited consular attention where eligible.

Practical advice for visa holders

For individuals holding H‑1B, H‑4, F, J or M visas, the immediate practical step is to reassess any nonessential travel plans. Employers advised postponement of discretionary trips and recommended consulting corporate immigration teams or outside counsel before booking travel that would require stamping.

If travel is unavoidable, affected employees should assemble complete documentation, allow significant lead time for consular appointments, and explore expedited appointment requests where the embassy or consulate permits. Keeping employers informed and registered with internal immigration points of contact is also crucial.

Finally, maintain copies of work authorization, employer letters, and any documentation that demonstrates ties to the U.S. and the need for timely return , materials that can help if consular posts consider an expedited review or if employees must demonstrate intent upon re-entry.

Diplomatic and policy implications

The delays have prompted diplomatic concern in some countries. India, for example, has flagged extended H‑1B appointment wait times affecting its nationals, highlighting the broader international impact when consular processing slows for large expatriate populations (Economic Times).

Observers note that the consular slowdown is not only a logistics problem for employers and employees but also a policy issue tied to broader immigration and national security choices made in 2025. Changes such as expanded vetting and new H‑1B fee structures have ripple effects through consular operations worldwide.

How the State Department and foreign posts manage resources, prioritize cases and implement vetting measures will shape the trajectory of these visa stamping delays in 2026 and beyond , with implications for talent mobility, corporate operations and bilateral relations.

In sum, the wave of corporate advisories from late December 2025 reflects an acute operational challenge: tech giants warning employees to avoid international travel because consular stamping timelines have stretched dramatically. The guidance underscores that visa stamping delays are not abstract policy changes but concrete risks to employees’ mobility and employers’ workforce stability.

Visa holders and employers should stay informed, plan conservatively, and coordinate closely with immigration counsel. While expedited options and consular remedies exist in some cases, the safest course for many impacted workers is to delay nonessential travel until appointment availability stabilizes.