Apple and Google Advise Visa Workers to Stay in U.S. Amid Immigration Concerns

Apple and Google are advising their employees on visas to refrain from international travel due to heightened immigration scrutiny under the Trump administration. Internal memos from the companies, reviewed by NPR, indicate that U.S. consulates and embassies are experiencing significant delays in processing visa applications, sometimes lasting months.

New rules from the Department of Homeland Security now require visa applicants to undergo a screening of up to five years of social media history, raising concerns about privacy. Berry Appleman & Leiden, a law firm representing Google, recommended that employees avoid international travel to mitigate the risk of being stranded outside the U.S.

Similarly, Fragomen, the law firm working with Apple, urged employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp to postpone travel if possible. The advisories highlight the challenges tech companies face in retaining skilled foreign workers amidst increasingly stringent immigration policies.

Earlier this year, the White House also announced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas, a significant financial burden for tech firms. The report mentions that hundreds of visa holders who traveled to India for H-1B renewals faced postponed appointments, with State Department officials citing the need for more time to assess security risks.

The Alphabet Workers' Union at Google has been advocating for protections for H-1B visa holders, emphasizing their vulnerability during layoffs and the heightened scrutiny of the visa program under the current administration.