Another Tech Giant Asks H-1B Staff to Avoid Foreign Travel

After Google, Microsoft has also advised its H1B visa holding employees to avoid travelling outside the United States. The warning comes amid growing confusion and long delays in visa stamping appointments, especially in India.

In recent weeks, many H1B professionals travelled to India for visa renewal interviews. However, several of them were caught off guard when their appointments were suddenly postponed. In some cases, the new interview dates were pushed back by many months, leaving employees stuck outside the US and unable to return to work on time.

According to reports, Microsoft sent an internal note to certain employees who are on work visas. The company asked them to avoid international travel unless it is absolutely necessary. The advisory pointed to serious delays at US consulates, particularly in Chennai and Hyderabad. Some rescheduled appointments are now being given dates as late as mid 2026.

The delays are mainly due to stricter checks introduced by the US government. Visa applicants are now going through extended screening, including detailed reviews of social media activity. Because of this, consulates are taking much more time to process each case, which has led to a huge backlog.

Earlier, Google had issued a similar advisory through its legal and immigration team. With more companies taking the same stand, it is clear that the tech industry is concerned about the uncertainty surrounding visa renewals.

Until the appointment backlog improves, major tech firms are choosing caution to protect their employees from unexpected disruptions.