Lawyers advising Apple, Google, and Microsoft are telling some employees to stay in the United States if they need a visa stamp to return. The warning targets workers who already hold valid visas but would require re-stamping after international travel. The concern is simple. If you leave now, you may not get back for months.
This issue traces back to changes in how the US handles visa re-entry. Employees with H-1B visas must carry a valid stamp in their passport to re-enter the country. Recent policy shifts have slowed that process, turning what used to be a routine appointment into a long wait.
According to Business Insider, immigration lawyers representing major tech firms say visa stamping delays can stretch up to a year. As a result, companies have started sending internal warnings to staff who rely on these visas. Each message carries the same advice. Do not travel unless you have no other option.
Companies are issuing travel warnings
A law firm representing Apple told visa holders to avoid international travel due to “unpredictable, extended delays when returning to the U.S.” The memo added that employees should speak with immigration teams before making any travel plans.
Microsoft shared a similar message. Its associate general counsel for immigration wrote, “For employees currently stuck abroad, we know this is an anxious moment.” He also urged workers to “strongly consider changing” travel plans and warned that “there are limitations to your ability to perform work for your US role” while abroad.
Reason behind the delays
The slowdown comes from new screening rules that require embassies and consulates to conduct online presence reviews. This applies not only to visa holders but also to spouses and children traveling on dependent visas.
A State Department spokesperson explained that embassies are now “prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else.” That shift has pushed routine appointments back by months in several countries.
If you leave the US for visa stamping and your appointment gets delayed, you may be stuck overseas without a clear return date. Immigration lawyers say this risk alone is enough reason to stay put unless travel is essential.
For now, tech companies are choosing caution. Their message is clear. If you need a visa stamp, staying in the US is the safer option.
