Apple, Google urge H-1B employees: Think twice before traveling abroad

Business Dec 23, 2025

Apple and Google are telling their H-1B visa-holding employees to hold off on international trips for now.
Thanks to big backlogs at US embassies and new rules asking for up to five years of social media history, getting your visa processed could take months.

Why does it matter?

If you don't have a valid H-1B stamp, leaving the US could mean being stuck abroad and unable to get back to work anytime soon.
Legal teams at both companies are urging folks to check with immigration experts before making travel plans.
Plus, with new $100,000 filing fees and stricter vetting, there's extra stress on both workers and employers—especially as H-1B workers are vulnerable in the event of layoffs.