Washington: US technology major Google has issued a strong advisory to its foreign employees, urging them to avoid travelling abroad amid severe delays in US visa re-entry processing. According to a report by Business Insider, the company’s external immigration counsel, BAL Immigration Law, circulated an internal memo on Thursday warning that employees who leave the United States could be stranded overseas for as long as 12 months because of mounting appointment backlogs at US embassies and consulates worldwide.

The advisory highlights growing concerns within the company as visa processing times reach what has been described as a critical breaking point, posing risks both to business continuity and employee job security.

Who is affected by the advisory?

The warning primarily applies to highly skilled foreign professionals holding H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visas who require a fresh visa stamp to re-enter the United States. Although such employees may continue to have valid employment or student status, the physical visa stamp in their passport remains essential for re-entry into the country.

The internal memo from BAL Immigration Law cautioned employees, stating, “Please be aware that some US Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months.”

As a result, workers who travel abroad face the possibility of an “extended stay outside the US”, a situation that could disrupt Google’s internal operations and place individual employees at risk of being unable to return to work for up to a year.

Why have Visa processing times increased?

The sharp rise in visa wait times has been largely attributed to the introduction of stricter vetting measures by the US Department of State earlier this month. Under new directives issued by the Donald Trump administration, consular offices are now required to carry out “online presence reviews” for visa applicants.

These reviews involve detailed screening of applicants’ social media activity as part of enhanced background checks, significantly lengthening the processing timeline.

What has the US state department said?

A spokesperson for the US State Department confirmed that the focus of visa processing has shifted away from speed. According to the spokesperson, the priority has moved from “processing cases quickly” to “thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else”.

This renewed emphasis on national security has led to widespread cancellations of previously scheduled visa appointments. In major tech talent hubs such as India, some applicants have reportedly seen their interview dates postponed until as late as summer 2026.