NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Mountain View, CA, December 21, 2025: Google has advised employees who depend on U.S. work visas to avoid international travel, warning that prolonged visa processing delays could leave them stranded outside the country for months or longer.
According to an internal memo obtained by Business Insider, the guidance was circulated by Google’s external immigration counsel, BAL Immigration Law. The message cautioned employees that traveling abroad at this time could result in an “extended stay outside the U.S.” if they require a visa stamp for re-entry.
The memo noted that some U.S. embassies and consulates are currently experiencing visa appointment and processing delays of up to a year, depending on location and visa category.
Many nonimmigrant workers — including those on H-1B, L-1, and dependent visas — must obtain a visa stamp at a U.S. consulate abroad before returning, even if their petitions have already been approved by U.S. immigration authorities. With consular backlogs worsening in several countries, companies are increasingly warning employees of the risks associated with overseas travel.
Google emphasized that the advisory does not amount to a formal travel ban. Employees may still travel, but the company is urging them to carefully weigh the risk of prolonged separation from their jobs and families.
Indian American workers particularly affected
The warning is likely to resonate strongly within the Indian American professional community, which represents a substantial portion of the U.S. technology workforce. Indian nationals have long faced disproportionately high visa demand and longer wait times at U.S. consulates, particularly in cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
For many Indian-origin employees, international travel often coincides with family obligations, weddings, medical emergencies, or religious milestones. Immigration attorneys say the uncertainty has intensified stress for families who must now choose between personal responsibilities and the risk of being unable to return to the U.S. for extended periods.
Dependent spouses and children are also affected, as delays in stamping H-4 and L-2 visas can disrupt schooling, employment authorization, and family stability.
A wider industry trend
Google is not alone in issuing such guidance. Immigration lawyers and industry insiders say several major technology firms have quietly circulated similar advisories over the past year, reflecting growing concern about the reliability of U.S. consular processing.
Companies including Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and other multinational employers have increasingly relied on remote work accommodations, contingency planning, and legal briefings to manage travel risks for visa-holding staff. However, such measures offer limited relief when consular delays stretch into many months.
The issue has gained urgency as enhanced vetting procedures, staffing shortages, and post-pandemic backlogs continue to strain U.S. embassies worldwide.
