Google and Apple’s joint announcement is a big deal for employees on H-1B visas. They are telling these workers not to plan for international travel due to extreme visa processing delays. December 20, 2025 was a day of critical groundbreaking announcements. These were issued following growing concerns over the impact of frequent policy changes on visa application processes.
The warnings stem from an increase in processing times for H-1B visa applications, which are typically required for foreign workers in specialized occupations. Employees who require a visa stamp in order to re-enter the United States could experience delays that severely undermine the travel expectations set by their employers. The memo from Fragomen, a prominent immigration services firm, emphasized the importance of this precautionary measure.
Recent communication from the administration indicates hope for unexpected and lengthy delays on returns to the U.S. We continue to advise employees who do not have a valid H-1B visa stamp in their passport to refrain from any international travel for the immediate future.
In their own ways, both Google and Apple have been trailblazers among the largest technology companies to protect their employees from these bad incentives. They follow forewarnings of tech giants such as Amazon and Microsoft who released a similar advisory last month. These warnings highlight a broader issue within the industry as companies navigate the complexities of immigration policy and its effects on their talent pool.
The White House announced just last week a new $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas. This shrewd decision muddies the waters for employers and employees alike. This increase in costs adds another layer of concern for those relying on these visas to work in the United States.
The H-1B visa program is a lifeblood and a vitally important resource for many technology firms. It allows them to recruit foreign professionals with advanced expertise. As processing times have increased, businesses have struggled to keep their international workforce properly deployed.