Law firms representing Google and Apple have warned that employees who need a visa stamp to re-enter the United States should avoid leaving the country due to visa processing taking longer than usual. According to Business Insider,
BI says it has seen memos from BAL Immigration Law (which represents Google) and Fragomen (which represents Apple).
“Given the recent updates and the potential for unexpected, extended delays upon returning to the U.S., we strongly recommend that employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp avoid international travel for now,” the Fragomen memo reportedly said.
A State Department spokesperson told BI that embassies are “now prioritizing a thorough investigation of each visa case above all others.”
Salon also reports t“Hundreds of thousands” of Indian professionals heading home to renew their US work visas in December have had appointments at the US Embassy canceled or rescheduled due to new requirements for social media checks.
TechCrunch has contacted Google and Apple for comment. Both companies, along with other large tech employers, issued similar warnings In September, the White House announced that employers would have to pay a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications.
