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 for longer than usual during visa processing. According to Business Insider.
BI said it has seen memos from BAL Immigration Law (which represents Google) and Fragomen (which represents Apple).
“Given recent updates and the potential for unexpected, extended delays in returning to the United States, we strongly recommend that workers without a valid H-1B visa stamp avoid international travel for the time being,” the Fragomen memo said.
Google and Apple reportedly warned workers
A State Department spokesperson told BI that embassies are “now prioritizing thorough vetting of each visa case above all else.”
Salon also reports t“Hundreds” of Indian professionals who traveled home to renew their US work visas in December had their US embassy appointments canceled or rescheduled due to new requirements for social media verification.
TechCrunch has reached out to Google and Apple for comment. Both companies, along with other major tech employers, issued similar warnings in September when the White House announced that employers would have to pay a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications.