Google issues travel warning for employees amid 12-month US Visa delay: ‘Please be aware that …’

Google has asked some of its employees in the US to not travel abroad amid the H-1B visa row. According to a report by Business Insider, the company's outside counsel, BAL Immigration Law has sent an internal memo which says that workers who require a new visa stamp to re-enter the US risk being stuck overseas for months because many embassies and consulates are experiencing severe appointment backlogs.

The memo said that U.S. embassies and consulates are reporting visa stamping delays of up to 12 months, and recommend that affected employees avoid international travel unless absolutely necessary. The advisory affects workers on H-1B, H-4, F, J, and M visas."Please be aware that some US Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months," the memo read. I

US Visa delays linked to new social media vetting rules

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of State enforced the new social media screening rules.

The department confirmed to Business Insider that it is now conducting “online presence reviews for applicants,” adding that embassies may reschedule appointments as resources shift, and applicants can request expedited processing in limited situations.The publication quotes a a spokesperson for the Department of State who said that consulates worldwide, including in India, are placing greater emphasis on detailed vetting over speed, resulting in longer wait times.

Immigration firms have also reported postponed visa appointments in countries such as Ireland and Vietnam."While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else," the State Department spokesperson told the publication.