Tech companies warn visa workers not to travel amid US social media screening delays
Google, Apple, Microsoft, and ServiceNow have issued internal memos urging visa-holding employees to avoid international travel outside the US due to prolonged processing delays.
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Google, Apple, Microsoft, and ServiceNow have issued internal memos urging visa-holding employees to avoid international travel outside the US due to prolonged processing delays.
The memos warn that what was once a routine trip could face delays of months or even up to a year, as a result of postponed visa appointments.
Alarmingly, employees have been cautioned that there are both operational and career risks at play while visa processing is uncertain, especially for highly skilled workers on the H-1B visa in jobs such as software engineers.
The advisories come from both internal legal teams and immigration law firms and explicitly stress calling off non-essential trips until the bottleneck stabilizes.
A flurry of disruption
The US recently announced that visitors from over 42 countries will have to face five years of social media vetting, as well as having to submit selfies for identity verification.
This has led to a flurry of embassies and consulates worldwide, including high-traffic locations such as Dublin, New Delhi, and Ho Chi Minh City, having to reschedule routine visa appointments, one of the biggest travel disruptions since the pandemic.
Highly-skilled workers are especially prevalent in the tech industry, but the field relies heavily on foreign talent. However, many of these workers may have to rebook appointments, particularly if their stamps have expired.
As the intensity of vetting is ramped up, the Department of State has officially stipulated:“Embassies and consulates around the world… are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else.”
The tech companies are in a bit of a scramble, potentially during the festive period, as travel home for the holidays is a common benefit that might soon become a privilege for a select few.
It remains to be seen if tech companies will have to consider relocating staff as a result of this added burden on travel.
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