Google urged certain visa-holding employees to avoid international travel as U.S. consulates report long waits for visa-stamping appointments, raising the risk that staff could be stranded abroad during the holidays.
In an internal advisory relayed to staff by outside counsel, Google warned that employees who need a new visa stamp to reenter the United States could face extended delays, in some places stretching to a year. Reuters reported the guidance on December 20, 2025, noting that appointment backlogs have grown amid tighter vetting of H‑1B applicants. U.S. embassies face waits of up to 12 months in some posts, the memo said. The company did not comment publicly. (reuters.com)
Other major employers have issued similar cautions this year as visa policies shifted. In September, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft and other firms told H‑1B staff to avoid foreign travel following the White House’s surprise plan to add a $100,000 fee to new H‑1B petitions. (bloomberg.com)
The State Department last updated consular guidance on December 3, 2025, expanding “online presence” reviews to H‑1B workers and their H‑4 dependents, effective December 15. Applicants are instructed to make their social media profiles publicly viewable so officers can conduct additional screening. Social‑media vetting for H‑1B took effect December 15, adding time to adjudications and shrinking daily interview capacity at some posts. (travel.state.gov)
These checks land on top of broader policy changes this year. In September, the White House imposed a new $100,000 fee on fresh H‑1B petitions, a move that rattled employers and triggered ongoing legal challenges. New $100,000 H‑1B fee adds pressure to an already strained system and has prompted contingency planning across industries. (whitehouse.gov)
For visa holders who must leave the country for stamping, the practical risk is being unable to return on time. Even previously routine renewals can now face rescheduling or administrative review, particularly in high‑demand consulates. Employers are advising nonessential travel deferrals, and immigration teams are urging employees to confirm their status and documentation well before any trip. Reuters’ reporting underscores that some posts are quoting multi‑month waits, with limited prospects for expedited slots. (reuters.com)
Meanwhile, challenges to the new fee are moving through the courts. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., signaled skepticism about a business‑led effort to block the policy on December 19, but has not yet ruled—leaving companies and workers to navigate a period of uncertainty into early 2026. (reuters.com)
Companies are expected to keep cautioning staff through the peak travel window while monitoring consular backlogs and any further State Department guidance. For affected employees, the safest near‑term course remains simple: avoid nonessential international travel unless a valid visa stamp is already in hand and a return timeline is truly flexible.