After the announcement of a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, large American companies began urgently informing their employees about the risks. The Financial Times writes that Amazon and Microsoft urged H-1B holders to refrain from traveling abroad and to remain in the US until the rules are clarified, and employees who are abroad were advised to return to the US immediately.
JPMorgan, the largest U.S. bank by assets, also issued internal advisories for H-1B holders, while Goldman Sachs advised “be cautious with international travel.” Fragomen, a law firm that handles numerous H-1B applications, advised clients with valid visas to return to the U.S. immediately to avoid unexpected payments.
The uncertainty caused panic among companies, as it was initially unclear whether the new fee would apply to current visa holders. Only the next day, White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt clarified that the $100,000 would apply only to new applications and would take effect in the next cycle. Current H-1B holders will be able to leave and return to the United States freely.
The US approved about 400,000 H-1B applications last year, mostly to extend existing visas. The program remains critical to Silicon Valley and tech companies, with Amazon and Microsoft receiving more than 15,000 of these visas in the past year alone.
The business reaction shows how dependent companies are on international talent: Y Combinator CEO Harry Tan called the decision “a misstep that weakens US startups” and “gives an advantage to overseas tech hubs.” Canadian and European companies have reacted positively, seeing the changes as an opportunity to attract more qualified specialists.
The Indian Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the "humanitarian consequences" and urged US authorities to minimize the risks to the families of Indian citizens.