Stamped Out: Google Warns Staff With US Visas Against International Travel Amid Embassy Delays

Last Updated:December 20, 2025, 17:46 IST

The company cautioned that workers who leave the country may be stranded abroad for up to a year due to 'significant' appointment backlogs at US embassies and consulates worldwide

For companies like Google, which rely heavily on skilled professionals from India and China, these administrative hurdles are creating a climate of extreme uncertainty, effectively locking thousands of essential workers within US borders. File image

US tech giant Google has issued a stern travel advisory to its foreign employees, warning them to avoid international travel as US visa re-entry processing times reach a critical breaking point. According to a report by Business Insider, the company’s external immigration counsel, BAL Immigration Law, sent an internal memo on Thursday cautioning that workers who leave the country risk being stranded abroad for up to 12 months due to “significant" appointment backlogs at American embassies and consulates worldwide.

The 12-Month Wait: Why Travel is Now a Risk

The advisory primarily affects highly skilled foreign professionals on H-1B, H-4, F, J, and M visas who require a new visa stamp to re-enter the United States. While these workers may have valid employment or student status, the physical visa stamp in their passport is the “key" to crossing the border. The internal memo stated, “Please be aware that some US Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months."

This “extended stay outside the US" poses a dual threat: it disrupts Google’s internal operations and puts the individual’s job security at risk if they are unable to return to their desks for a year.

The Cause: Enhanced Vetting and Social Media Screening

The sudden spike in wait times is largely attributed to the rollout of rigorous new vetting protocols by the US Department of State earlier this month. Under new directives from the Donald Trump administration, consular offices are now required to conduct “online presence reviews", which involve a deep-dive screening of an applicant’s social media accounts.

A spokesperson for the State Department confirmed that the emphasis has shifted from “processing cases quickly" to “thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else". This prioritisation of national security over speed has resulted in mass cancellations of previously scheduled appointments in major tech-talent hubs like India, where some applicants have seen their interviews pushed as far back as summer 2026.

Broader Context: The Changing H-1B Landscape

The H-1B programme, which allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations, has become a political flashpoint. In addition to the vetting delays, the administration recently introduced a $100,000 annual fee for new H-1B applications, further tightening the belt on the tech sector’s reliance on global talent.

For companies like Google, which rely heavily on skilled professionals from India and China, these administrative hurdles are creating a climate of extreme uncertainty, effectively locking thousands of essential workers within US borders.

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