Microsoft has issued an advisory for its employees on H-1B/H-4 amid the ongoing visa appointment rescheduling and stamping delays. This comes amid new social media screening, said to address the potential “abuse of the H-1B program”. Calling it a “rapidly developing situation”, the software giant has issued “preliminary guidance” for employees who are in the US and are outside the US urging them to “return before your current visa expire”. The advisory, sent by Jack Chen, Microsoft’s associate general counsel for immigration says “Rescheduling notifications are concentrated in Chennai and Hyderabad, with some unverified reports from other consulates. New dates are as far out as June 2026.”“Some employees have already traveled for appointments and received rescheduling notices without warning; others are getting notices before departure. To set expectations, it is highly unlikely emergency appointments will be granted, given the circumstances,” it adds.
Microsoft says it has created a survey where employees can share their details in case they have an appointment scheduled with a US consulate. The survey, the company says, “ allows you to update your responses—for example, if you haven’t been rescheduled when you originally complete this survey, but subsequently receive a rescheduling notification.Notably, other tech giants including Apple and Google have issued similar advisory for their employees.
Microsoft’s travel advisory for H-1B/H-4 visa employees
Here’s the full text of Microsoft’s travel advisory to H-1B/H-4 visa employees sent by Jack Chen, Microsoft’s associate general counsel for immigrationUpdate #1 on H-1B/H-4 Visa Appointment Rescheduling and Stamping DelaysHi everyone,As shared yesterday, some U.S. consulates are rescheduling existing H-1B/H-4 visa appointments and pushing dates out by several months. Here’s what we know:
- Rescheduling notifications are concentrated in Chennai and Hyderabad, with some unverified reports from other consulates. New dates are as far out as June 2026.
- The delays stem from operational constraints tied to the new online presence review for H-1B/H-4 visas, effective December 15, which reduces daily processing capacity. We’re also hearing that these consulates needed time to implement new vetting procedures.
- We have no confirmed reports of rescheduling for other visa types yet. While only H-1B/H-4, F, J, and M visas are subject to the online presence review, we think secondary impacts on overall processing may emerge.
- We don’t know if rescheduling is ongoing, for those whose original visa appointments have not been changed.
Some employees have already traveled for appointments and received rescheduling notices without warning; others are getting notices before departure. To set expectations, it is highly unlikely emergency appointments will be granted, given the circumstances.This is a rapidly developing situation. Here is our preliminary guidance, which we’ll update as we learn more. Please read this next section carefully—I’ve tried to simplify it, but the details do matter:For those currently outside the U.S.:
- You need a new visa stamp + your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled months later: We will contact you. Please follow the instructions below to report your situation (even if you’ve already contacted AskUSI).
- Your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled BUT you still have some validity left on your current visa stamp: If your visa is for the proper work-authorized category, return before your current visa expires. This situation applies for people who had scheduled visa appointments because their visas are expiring soon, not before the return to the U.S. is planned.
- You have upcoming travel + will need a new visa to return + your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled months later: You should strongly consider changing your travel plans. You cannot return until your new visa stamp is issued, and it’s highly unlikely that the appointment can be moved earlier. And there are limitations to your ability to perform work for your U.S. role during that period. See Microsoft Global Mobility Payroll and Tax Compliance Policy.
- You have upcoming travel + will need a new visa to return BUT your H-1B visa appointment has not been rescheduled: There is risk your appointment could be moved during your trip and result in you being stuck abroad. Factor this into your decision. We are still learning more about how widespread and significant delays are in other consulates.
For other visa categories (not H-1B/H-4, F, J, M): Proceed as planned for now, but note things can change quickly.HOW YOU CAN HELP US IDENTIFY TRENDSTo track real-time impacts, we need data from employees whose appointments have been rescheduled or may be soon. This will help us identify:
- Which consulates are affected
- When notifications of rescheduling are being sent
- Length of delays
- Whether other visa types are impacted
If you have a visa appointment scheduled with a U.S. consulate for any visa category, we’ve created a survey where you can share these details with us. And importantly, the survey allows you to update your responses—for example, if you haven’t been rescheduled when you originally complete this survey, but subsequently receive a rescheduling notification. This form is also the clearest way for us to identify employees who are currently outside the U.S. and cannot return until a new visa stamp is issued: Census of Upcoming Visa Stamping Appointments — Fill out formWe’ll share out insights based on these responses and further information we’re able to gather by the end of the week.For employees currently stuck abroad—we know this is an anxious moment. We will provide clear and orderly guidance to you directly as soon as we can.
