By TOI Tech Desk
Publication Date: 2025-12-23 13:12:00
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.
