New Delhi / San Francisco: Google, the search and technology giant owned by Alphabet, has advised some of its employees holding US visas to avoid international travel, citing severe delays in visa appointments at American embassies and consulates across several countries.
According to a report by Business Insider, the advisory was issued through an internal email sent by the company’s external legal counsel, BAL Immigration Law, on Thursday. The email cautioned employees who require a visa stamp to re-enter the United States that overseas travel could result in prolonged stays outside the country due to extended processing timelines. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Embassy Backlogs Stretching Up to a Year
The internal memo highlighted that several US embassies and consulates are currently facing visa appointment backlogs of up to 12 months, significantly increasing the risk for employees who leave the US without a valid re-entry visa stamp.
“International travel will risk an extended stay outside the United States,” the memo warned, underscoring that even short personal or professional trips could turn into months-long disruptions for affected staff.
The advisory applies particularly to employees on non-immigrant work visas, many of whom are critical to Google’s engineering, product, and research operations.
Tighter H-1B Scrutiny Under Trump Administration
The travel warning comes against the backdrop of stricter immigration enforcement announced this month by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The government has introduced enhanced vetting measures for H-1B Visa applicants, including expanded screening of social media activity.
The H-1B visa programme, widely used by US technology companies to recruit skilled professionals—particularly from India and China—has faced heightened scrutiny since Trump returned to office. This year, the administration also imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, sharply raising costs for employers.
Earlier Advisory Still in Effect
This is not the first time Alphabet has raised concerns internally over international travel risks. In September, the company had strongly advised employees to avoid overseas trips and specifically urged H-1B visa holders to remain within the US, according to an email reviewed by Reuters.
That earlier warning reflected growing uncertainty around visa renewals, re-entry approvals, and administrative delays—concerns that have since intensified.
Impact on Global Workforce
Google employs tens of thousands of foreign nationals in the US, many of whom rely on time-bound visas requiring periodic stamping at overseas embassies. Extended processing delays could disrupt project timelines, personal commitments, and workforce planning across teams.
Industry experts note that such advisories are increasingly common among large US tech firms, as immigration uncertainty becomes a material operational risk rather than a routine compliance issue.
Broader Immigration Concerns
The advisory also aligns with wider trends in US immigration policy, including prolonged wait times for tourist and business visas, tighter student visa screening, and stepped-up enforcement actions. For global professionals, especially those in the technology sector, international mobility has become significantly more constrained.
For now, Google employees affected by the advisory have been urged to consult immigration counsel before making any travel plans and to assume that re-entry timelines may be unpredictable.
