In a growing trend that’s hitting the tech industry hard, foreign tech workers are steering clear of travel to the United States due to tough new immigration rules under the Trump administration. This shift, highlighted in reports from late 2025, stems from fears of visa denials, long delays, and border hassles that could strand professionals abroad for months. Major companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and ServiceNow have even warned their visa-holding employees to avoid international trips to prevent getting stuck outside the US.
The warnings started rolling out around December 20, 2025, as delays at US embassies and consulates stretched to up to 12 months for visa renewals. For H-1B visa holders, who make up a big chunk of tech talent, especially from India, where 71% of approvals go, these delays mean routine trips home for stamping could turn into extended exiles. Law firms like Fragomen (for Apple) and Berry Appleman & Leiden (for Google) advised: “Avoid international travel at this time as you risk an extended stay outside of the U.S.” Similar alerts went out from Microsoft and ServiceNow, urging staff to return before visas expire or skip non-essential travel.
Behind this are policies rolled out since Trump took office in January 2025, including expanded travel bans to over 30 countries after an attack on National Guard members. New rules require screening up to five years of social media history for visa applicants and dependents, adding to the backlog. A proposed $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas was later clarified to apply only to employers hiring from outside the US, but it still fuels uncertainty. High denial rates, like those for Chinese tech workers heading to CES in Las Vegas, show the real-world bite.
The impact is wide: US tech conferences see falling foreign attendance, with organizers moving events to Europe, Canada, or Asia. A Specialist Staffing Group report notes 32% of US-based STEM pros are open to relocating due to these issues. Companies face project delays, and rivals abroad tout fast-track visas to poach talent. As one expert put it, it’s a “de facto deterrent” hurting innovation.
This avoidance echoes past Trump-era policies but feels sharper now, with tech giants like Amazon and Meta also limiting travel for dependents amid layoffs. For workers, it’s about safety—fears of detention or denial at borders. As 2025 wraps, this could reshape global tech flows, pushing more remote work or shifts to friendlier hubs. If you’re a foreign tech pro, think twice before booking that US flight.
