Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai. Google has advised a section of its employees to avoid international travel, warning that returning to the United States could take up to a year because of severe delays in visa stamping appointments. The advisory primarily affects employees working in the US on temporary visas, especially H-1B holders, who form a large part of the global tech workforce. The company has flagged that long waits at US embassies and consulates worldwide could leave employees stranded outside the country for months, disrupting both personal plans and business operations.
Memo flags unprecedented visa appointment delays
The advisory was issued through an internal memo circulated on December 18 by BAL Immigration Law, an external immigration law firm that advises Google. The memo pointed out that waiting periods for visa stamping appointments at several US embassies and consulates have stretched up to 12 months. Employees who require fresh visa stamps to re-enter the US were cautioned that international travel now carries significant risk, as delays could force them to remain abroad far longer than anticipated. The impact is not limited to one visa category and extends across multiple non-immigrant visa types.
Who is most affected and why it matters
The warning is particularly critical for H-1B visa holders, a category widely used by US technology firms to employ highly skilled foreign professionals. According to the memo, the delays are also affecting dependents and students. The visas facing prolonged wait times include:
- H-1B and H-4 work and dependent visas
- F, J and M visas for students and exchange visitors
- Employees and families needing fresh visa stamping after travel
Google has so far not issued any official public statement on the matter, but the internal advisory reflects growing concern within the company about workforce mobility and continuity.
Policy changes driving the backlog
The sharp rise in waiting periods has been linked to recent policy changes introduced this month under the Trump administration. The US State Department has expanded screening procedures for H-1B applicants, including detailed reviews of applicants’ social media accounts and online presence. Officials have said that more thorough vetting is now being prioritised for every case. As a result, many previously scheduled appointments have been cancelled, with fresh dates being pushed as far as March 2026 in some locations. Countries such as India, Ireland and Vietnam are seeing the worst backlogs.
This is not the first such warning
This is the second time in recent months that Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has cautioned employees against overseas travel. A similar advisory was issued in September, when H-1B visa holders were urged to stay within the US to avoid re-entry complications. Since then, pressure on the visa programme has increased further. Key developments this year include:
- A new fee of 100,000 dollars imposed on fresh H-1B applications
- Increased scrutiny of visa applicants’ backgrounds
- Reduced availability of embassy appointment slots
Understanding the H-1B visa and what lies ahead
The H-1B visa allows US companies to employ foreign professionals in specialised fields such as technology, engineering and research. It is typically valid for three years and can be extended, but re-entry after foreign travel requires fresh visa stamping. With delays worsening, thousands of tech workers, most of them from India and China, face uncertainty. Immigration experts warn that waiting periods may increase further as the new policies are fully implemented. Employees are being advised to cancel non-essential travel and prepare for tighter restrictions in the coming months.
