H-1B Visa Holders Urged to Return to US Immediately as Trump’s $100,000 Fee Looms
H-1B Visa Holders Urged to Return to US Immediately as Trump’s $100,000 Fee Looms
Major tech and financial companies are in a frantic race against time, issuing urgent directives to their H-1B visa-holding employees: return to the United States by September 21. The mandate comes in response to a surprise executive order signed by President Donald Trump, which will impose a staggering $100,000 fee on all H-1B visa applications and renewals starting at 12:01 a.m. ET tomorrow.
Companies including Amazon, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, and Meta have circulated internal communications, reviewed by Business Insider, advising employees currently abroad on H-1B or H-4 visas to make every effort to re-enter the US before the deadline. Those already in the country are being told to avoid international travel for the foreseeable future. The drastic measure aims to prevent employees from being denied re-entry or facing immense financial hurdles for their employers.
Amazon’s internal guidance, issued late Friday, explicitly warned, “If you have H-1B status and are in the US: Stay in the country for now, even if you have travel planned for the immediate future.” For those outside the US, the advisory stated, “Try to return before tomorrow’s deadline if possible,” adding that those who cannot make it back should avoid attempting re-entry until further instructions are provided.
Similar advisories were quickly disseminated by Microsoft, Meta, and JPMorgan Chase, acknowledging the significant disruption to employees’ travel plans but prioritizing their presence in the US. This executive order, described by administration officials as a means to ensure companies hire “very valuable” foreign workers or train Americans, is expected to cause massive upheaval across the US tech sector, which heavily relies on H-1B visa holders for specialized roles.
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