What to know

  • Apple, Google, Microsoft, and ServiceNow advised employees to avoid non-essential international travel if they need a U.S. visa stamp to return.
  • Consular backlogs in some regions could delay re-entry by months, potentially up to a year.
  • Expanded security vetting is slowing appointments and increasing uncertainty.
  • The guidance is about risk management in the long term.

If you’re one of the visa-holding employees at Apple or Google, you might have already seen internal advisories telling you to think twice before booking international travel. Law firms representing both companies have reportedly warned that if you need a visa stamp to re-enter the United States, you should avoid leaving the country for now because consulates and embassies are facing unusually long processing times — delays that in some locations could stretch up to about a year.

These warnings come amid mounting backlogs and expanded security vetting, creating a real risk that you could be stuck abroad if your visa appointment gets postponed or rescheduled.

The situation has been made worse by tougher screening requirements — including deeper social media and background checks — which are slowing down visa processing at U.S. consulates around the world. If you travel without a valid stamp and then can’t get a timely re-entry appointment, you may be unable to return to your job when expected. TechCrunch notes that legal teams for Apple and Google have explicitly advised that “unpredictable, extended delays” are possible when trying to come back into the U.S., underscoring how erratic the current environment has become.

For you, the advice isn’t a travel ban — it’s a risk-mitigation alert. By urging you to stay put unless travel is essential, the MNC giants are trying to protect your ability to return smoothly and keep critical operations running without interruption. Until visa backlogs ease and consular services speed up, you’re being asked to weigh every international trip very carefully

Via: Business Insider