Google warns some visa employees not to leave the US due to 'significant' return delays of up to a year
Source: Business Insider
Dec 19, 2025, 9:48 PM ET
Google has advised some employees on visas not to travel outside the US due to delays at embassies, Business Insider has learned. The company's outside counsel BAL Immigration Law sent an email on Thursday advising staff who require a visa stamp to re-enter the US not to leave the country because visa processing was taking longer than usual, according to a copy of the memo reviewed by Business Insider.
"Please be aware that some US Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months," the memo read. It was recommended that employees avoid international travel as they would "risk an extended stay outside the US."
American consulates and embassies around the world are seeing delays with routine visa appointments following the introduction of a new social media screening requirement, which applies to H-1B visa workers and their dependents, as well as students and exchange visitors.
On Friday, a spokesperson for the Department of State told Business Insider it was conducting "online presence reviews for applicants." The department said it may move appointments as resources change, with applicants able to request expedited slots on a case-by-case basis. "While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else," the State Department spokesperson said.
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/google-tells-visa-holders-stamp-leave-us-return-delays-2025-12
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