Google, Apple alert visa workers to travel risks: Report

• Tech workers face visa stamping delays of up to one year, lawyers say.
• Warnings come amid tighter US screening under President Trump.

Google and Apple have warned US-based employees who hold work visas against traveling abroad, citing severe delays at American embassies and consulates that could leave them stranded outside the country for months.

Law firms representing the two technology giants sent internal notices alerting staff that visa appointment backlogs in some locations now stretch up to 12 months, according to Business Insider.

Risk of being stranded

The messages cautioned that international travel currently carries high risk, as employees may be unable to secure timely visa stamping appointments required to re-enter the United States.

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“Travel at this time could result in prolonged stays outside the US”, the notices warned, according to the report.

New screening rules

The delays are partly linked to expanded vetting requirements, including detailed reviews of visa applicants’ social media accounts. The report also points to increased scrutiny introduced by the administration of President Donald Trump on high-skilled work visas.

Alphabet, Google’s parent company, had already advised its employees in September to avoid overseas travel. It specifically urged work-visa holders to remain inside the United States to prevent legal or procedural complications that could block their return.

Broader immigration crackdown

Since returning to the White House, Trump has pursued stricter immigration policies, targeting undocumented migrants while tightening rules for legal residents, visitors, and tourists.

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Last Tuesday, he signed an executive order imposing new entry restrictions on citizens of multiple countries, including several Arab states, further complicating travel and visa processing for foreign nationals working in the US.

Industry analysts say the warnings underscore growing uncertainty for international talent in the American tech sector, as companies seek to shield key staff from policy-driven disruptions.