On the morning of December 20 (Beijing Time), an internal memo from Google surfaced, indicating that new U.S. regulations mandating social media checks for visa applicants have caused significant delays in visa renewal appointments at certain U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. These delays could potentially extend up to 12 months. Consequently, Google has advised some of its visa-holding employees to reconsider any planned international travel outside the United States. Ball Immigration Law Firm, a partner firm of Google, echoes this advice, cautioning employees who need to renew their visas and return to the U.S. against leaving the country, as they may encounter extended periods of being unable to re-enter the U.S. A spokesperson from the U.S. State Department confirmed that they are currently implementing 'online social media trace reviews' for all visa applicants. Consular officers will only grant visas once applicants have fully complied with all the necessary criteria. The delays in visa processing are impacting a range of visa categories, encompassing H-1B, H-4, F, J, and M visas.