Tech giants Google and Microsoft have advised their H-1B visa-holding employees to avoid travelling outside the United States.
The warning came amid the growing concern of professionals who travelled to India for visa renewals and had their appointments cancelled.
The new social media screening requirement has triggered delays at UN embassies and consulates worldwide. Professionals are now stranded and unable to return, a report by the Washington Post revealed.
Microsoft advised its visa-holding employees not to travel outside the US since reentry requires visa stamping from their country of origin.
The company was in the top third in leading H-1B approvals for initial employment, according to the National Foundation for American Policy. For continuing employment, Microsoft was listed with 4,863 H-1B approvals.
Jack Chen, the firm's association general counsel for immigration, sent a memo to the company’s employees detailing how they navigate the their positions with their visas.
“Rescheduling notifications are concentrated in Chennai and Hyderabad, with some unverified reports from other consulates. New dates are as far out as June 2026,” the memo noted.
The company’s immigration experts said that the delays were being fuelled by “operational constraints” which were related to their online presence review.
The rule went into effect on December 15.
Us consulates around the world were impacted, especially in India. Microsoft noted, “We’re also hearing that these consulates needed time to implement new vetting procedures.”
Visa applicants were also told to make their social media public.
Google had also issued a similar advisory via its legal and immigration team to holders of H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visas. Google's memo said that some US embassies and consulates face appointment delays of up to a year.
In September, Alphabet's Google strongly advised its employees to avoid international travel and urged H-1B visa holders to remain in the US.
Apple had also sent its employees a similar message.