Google’s immigration counsel and Apple’s immigration team urged some employees in December 2025 to avoid international travel if they needed a new visa stamp to re-enter the United States, warning that appointment delays could leave them abroad for months.
BAL Immigration Law, which represents Google, said in an employee memo that visa-stamping appointment delays at some U.S. embassies and consulates were reported to be as long as 12 months. The firm attributed longer processing times to high demand and enhanced screening for H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visas.
Apple’s advisory specifically addressed employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp, citing the possibility of unpredictable, extended delays. It directed employees who could not postpone travel to contact Apple Immigration and immigration law firm Fragomen in advance to discuss the risks.
Expanded screening and rescheduled appointments
The State Department expanded its online presence review requirement to H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents on December 15, 2025. The screening includes social media activity and requires applicants to make their social media profiles public. The department had introduced online presence reviews for F, M and J applicants in June 2025.
In a client alert, Fragomen said U.S. consulates in India were canceling and rescheduling H-1B and H-4 appointments originally scheduled for December 15 or later, with many moved to March 2026. The firm said consular emails confirmed that fewer applicants would be interviewed each day under the new review process.
A State Department spokesperson said embassies and consulates were prioritizing “thoroughly vetting each visa case.” The department said it could move appointments as resources changed and that applicants could request expedited appointments on a case-by-case basis.
Earlier H-1B restrictions
The December warnings followed similar travel advisories in September 2025, when President Donald Trump issued a proclamation imposing a $100,000 payment requirement for certain new H-1B petitions. The proclamation was signed on September 19 and took effect on September 21, with exceptions available for cases deemed to be in the national interest.
The White House said the payment requirement did not apply to previously issued H-1B visas or petitions submitted before the effective date, did not change renewal fees and did not prevent current H-1B visa holders from traveling into and out of the United States. The December advisories addressed employees who would need a new visa stamp abroad before returning.
