Google and Apple employees on US visas apparently told to avoid international travel

• Google and Apple lawyers are warning H-1B visa holders not to leave the US for the time being
• Returning to the country could result in lengthy delays and postponed appointments
• State Department says thorough vetting takes priority over speed

Google and Apple have reportedly started to warn some visa-holding employees not to travel outside of the US, because the re-entry processing could take longer than expected.

The news, initially reported by Business Insider, comes from the companies' respective law firms, BAL Immigration Law (Google) and Fragomen (Apple).

Employees who need a new H-1B visa stamp are being urged not to travel abroad due to unpredictable extended delays which could pose the risk of being stranded abroad. The H-1B visa allows US employers to hire skilled foreign professionals for up to three years, or six years with extensions.