U.S. Immigration Crackdown Affects Tech Workers on Visas

Apple and Google are advising U.S.-based employees on visas to avoid international travel due to increased vetting and delays at U.S. consulates and embassies. According to internal memos reviewed by NPR, the Department of Homeland Security's new rules include a screening of up to five years of social media history, which has raised concerns about privacy.

Law firms working with the companies, such as Berry Appleman & Leiden for Google and Fragomen for Apple, have cautioned employees without valid H-1B visa stamps to stay in the U.S. if possible, warning that routine trips abroad could lead to extended delays returning to the country.

Recent reports indicate that hundreds of visa holders who traveled to India to renew their H-1Bs faced postponed appointments due to the need for additional vetting by the State Department. This crackdown on immigration is part of the Trump administration's broader policy changes, including a new $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas, which is particularly affecting the tech sector reliant on highly skilled foreign workers.

The Alphabet Workers' Union at Google is advocating for more protections for H-1B workers, who could be at risk of losing their legal status in the event of layoffs, according to Google software engineer Parul Koul.