Tech giants urge employees to stay in US amid visa appointment uncertainty

Tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Apple have cautioned employees not to travel outside the US unless visa appointments are confirmed amid widespread rescheduling and last-minute cancellations.

Amazon, in an advisory, asked those with interviews scheduled between late December and January to remain in the US, flagging that cancelled appointments could leave them stranded outside the US for extended periods and unable to return.

The company warned employees to travel outside only after receiving confirmation

of their rescheduled appointment date, citing a high risk of sudden cancellations. All the same, the tech giant advised employees currently abroad with a valid US visa stamp to return to the US before their visa expires. The advisory comes amid widespread delays in H-1B visa interviews, which have left several workers stuck in India for months, triggering concerns over employment status in the US.

Google too reportedly sent a similar memo regarding those on H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visas, warning some US embassies and consulates face appointment delays of up to a year.

The rescheduling follows the US Department of State’s decision to expand digital vetting to employment-based visas, with consular officers mandated to conduct online presence checks for H-1B workers and H-4 dependents seeking visas or renewals overseas from December 15, 2025.

Under the policy, applicants are required to keep social media accounts used over the past five years publicly accessible, allowing officers to review online activity and other publicly available information.

This additional scrutiny has triggered longer processing times, further security checks, or visa refusals in some cases, with consulates reallocating staff to manage the increased workload.

Also Read: H-1B visa interview delays leave many stranded in India for months, spark panic over job losses