Google and Apple have reportedly warned their employees who require a visa stamp to re-enter the United States to avoid international travel due to longer-than-usual visa processing times. According to Business Insider, memos from BAL Immigration Law, which represents Google, and Fragomen, which represents Apple, have been viewed by the publication. The memos advise employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp to refrain from traveling abroad until further notice.

The warning comes as the State Department has prioritized thoroughly vetting each visa case, according to a spokesperson who spoke to Business Insider. This move has resulted in hundreds of Indian professionals who traveled home to renew their U.S. work visas in December having their U.S. embassy appointments canceled or rescheduled due to new requirements for social media vetting, as reported by Salon.

The situation is a result of the White House's announcement in September that employers would have to pay a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications. This development has led to a significant increase in the processing time for visa applications, causing concern among tech companies and their employees.

According to the Fragomen memo, the company strongly recommends that employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp avoid international travel for now. "Given the recent updates and the possibility of unpredictable, extended delays when returning to the U.S., we strongly recommend that employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp avoid international travel for now," the memo reportedly said.

The situation has been exacerbated by the new social media vetting requirements, which have caused delays in the visa application process. "This is a classic case of bureaucratic red tape causing unnecessary delays and inconvenience to individuals and businesses," said an immigration lawyer who wished to remain anonymous.

The impact of the visa processing delays is being felt globally, particularly in countries with a large number of tech professionals who rely on the H-1B visa program to work in the United States. The delays are causing concern among tech companies, which are struggling to find skilled workers to fill their job openings.

The current status of the visa processing delays is unclear, but it is expected that the situation will continue to evolve in the coming weeks. TechCrunch has reached out to Google and Apple for comment, but the companies have not responded.

In the meantime, employees who require a visa stamp to re-enter the United States are advised to exercise caution and avoid international travel until further notice. The situation highlights the complexities of the visa application process and the need for a more efficient and streamlined system.