Google, Apple, and Microsoft warn some visa holders not to leave the US due to 'significant' return delays of up to a year

Google and Apple are advising some employees with visas not to travel outside the US, per memos viewed by Business Insider. The companies' law firms recommended that staff who need their visas stamped for re-entry stay in place. A social media screening requirement for visas is causing appointment delays stretching for months. Google, Apple, Microsoft, and IT automation firm ServiceNow are among the companies that have advised some employees with visas to refrain from traveling outside the US due to delays at embassies. The immigration counsels for those companies sent emails advising staff who require a visa stamp to re-enter the US not to leave the country because visa processing was taking longer than usual, according to copies of their memos reviewed by Business Insider. "Please be aware that some US Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months," the memo sent Thursday by BAL Immigration Law, which represents Google, says. The firm recommended that employees avoid international travel as they would "risk an extended stay outside the US." A memo from Fragomen, a law firm representing Apple, sent to some visa holders at Apple last week similarly warned them not to travel. "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," the memo says. "If travel cannot be postponed, employees should connect with Apple Immigration and Fragomen in advance to discuss the risks." Microsoft's memo, which was sent by Jack Chen, the company's associate general counsel for immigration, asks employees stuck outside the country because of rescheduled visa appointments to "report their situation" to the company. "For employees currently stuck abroad, we know this is an anxious moment," Chen wrote. "We will provide clear and orderly guidance to you directly as soon as we can." For employees still in the US planning international travel, Microsoft advises them to "strongly consider changing" travel plans. "There are limitations to your ability to perform work for your US role during that period," Chen wrote. Microsoft is also urging employees to help the company figure out what's happening. "To track real-time impacts, we need data from employees whose appointments have been rescheduled or may be soon," the memo states. It links to a survey asking employees for details about the length of delays and which consulates are affected, among other things. ServiceNow's memo, which was sent on December 18 by the company's "Global Mobility Team," asks employees stuck abroad to reach out to their managers as soon as possible "to discuss whether an exception to the 30-day Work from Anywhere policy is warranted." It adds that ServiceNow will "review and approve" exceptions to the company's monthlong Work from Anywhere policy on a case-by-case basis. American consulates and embassies around the world are seeing delays with routine visa appointments following the introduction of a new social media screening requirement, which applies to...

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