The technology sector and other companies are advising employees with H-1B visas to avoid foreign travel following President Donald Trump’s executive order to implement a $100,000 application fee for the program. The sudden change has sent waves of confusion and anxiety through corporate America, prompting an immediate response from major employers of skilled foreign workers.
The announcement caused immediate consternation, prompting tech giants like Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon to issue urgent warnings to their affected employees. Some companies advised H-1B visa holders who were traveling abroad to return to the U.S. and urged others to cancel any upcoming international travel plans. A White House official later clarified that the new fee applies only to new visa applications in the upcoming lottery cycle, not to current visa holders or those seeking renewals.
Despite the clarification, the uncertainty surrounding how the new policy will be applied and enforced at ports of entry has immigration lawyers and companies urging extreme caution. This has caused significant disruption for professionals who have built lives and careers in the U.S., with some having to cancel trips to visit family or postpone moves. Lawyers anticipate that the new policy will face immediate legal challenges in court.
