By News Karnataka
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Following the Trump administration’s announcement of a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas, major US companies including Microsoft, Amazon, and JP Morgan have advised their employees holding H-1B and H-4 visas not to leave the United States, Reuters reported.
The advisory comes ahead of the September 21, 2025 deadline, when the new executive order will take effect. H-4 visa holders, who are the legal spouses and unmarried children of H-1B visa holders, are also included in the advisories.
Tech giants urge employees to remain in the US
Amazon, in an internal letter, asked H-1B and H-4 visa holders to return to the US by 12 am Eastern Time on September 21. Similarly, Microsoft requested its employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to stay in the US for the “foreseeable future” and comply with the upcoming regulations.
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JPMorgan employees received guidance from Ogletree Deakins, the firm handling visa applications, advising H-1B holders to avoid international travel until further instructions were issued by the US government.
Details of the Trump administration order
Under the new executive order, companies hiring skilled foreign workers on H-1B visas will have to pay USD 100,000 per year per visa, a substantial rise from the previous administrative fee of USD 1,500. The administration justified the move, stating that the H-1B programme was being exploited to replace American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labour, undermining both the economy and national security.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that the fee would apply for the full three-year duration of the H-1B visa, although specific implementation details are still being finalised.
Impact on Indian professionals
Indians hold a significant share of H-1B visas, accounting for 72% of nearly 4 lakh visas issued between October 2022 and September 2023, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The fee hike is expected to impact thousands of Indian IT professionals and other skilled workers employed in the US.
Criticism from US lawmakers
US Democratic Party Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi criticised the move, calling it a “reckless attempt to cut America off from high-skilled workers who have long strengthened the workforce, fuelled innovation, and helped build industries that employ millions of Americans.”
The order has already led to internal advisories from multinational corporations, indicating the potential disruption it could cause in talent mobility and workforce planning.
Looking ahead
With companies urging employees to remain in the US and the enforcement of a steep fee, the move has raised concerns over its impact on the tech industry, talent retention, and Indo-US relations. Analysts say the high cost could discourage Indian professionals from seeking H-1B employment, potentially leading to skill shortages in critical sectors across the United States.
