Trump’s H-1B visa order sparks urgent corporate travel advisories

Major US companies including Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and JP Morgan have told employees to return to the United States immediately and avoid international travel, as the fallout from President Donald Trump’s overhaul of the H-1B visa system gathers pace.

According to Reuters, the firms issued urgent advisories after Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on employers for each H-1B worker. The order, which comes into force on 21 September, has created confusion for thousands of staff on H-1B and H-4 visas, many of them in critical technology roles.

Microsoft circulated an internal memo instructing H-1B and H-4 visa holders to be back in the US before the deadline. Employees already in the country were told not to leave “to avoid being denied re-entry”, Reuters reported. The company also admitted it was tracking staff still overseas, conceding there was little time to make last-minute travel plans.

Amazon sent similar guidance to employees, urging those on H-1B visas to return and remain in the US for the time being. The firm stressed that visa holders should not risk international travel until the practical implications of the order are better understood.

Meta, according to NDTV, instructed workers outside the country to return within 24 hours and advised H-1B and H-4 visa holders already in the US to stay put for at least two weeks. The company said it was still assessing how the new rules would be applied in practice.

JP Morgan also issued an email to staff, telling H-1B visa holders to be back in the US by 12:01 am on 21 September. The bank asked employees to remain in the country until further notice and avoid any non-essential international travel.

An abrupt shift

The fee represents a sharp break from previous US policy on skilled worker visas. Trump’s proclamation introduces a $100,000 cost for each H-1B application by employers, which critics argue will make it difficult for technology firms and banks to maintain their workforces.

The H-1B visa programme has long been central to America’s technology industry, enabling companies to hire skilled foreign workers, many from India. Roughly three-quarters of H-1B visas are estimated to be held by Indian nationals.

The sudden deadline has left many workers in limbo. Advisories from Microsoft and JP Morgan acknowledged that some employees abroad would struggle to return in time, given the limited number of available flights before 21 September. Staff with families are facing particularly difficult choices, as companies have urged even H-4 dependents to remain in the US, despite their status not being directly mentioned in Trump’s proclamation.

For those already in the US, the message from employers has been unequivocal: do not leave. Several firms have told staff that international travel could lead to being barred from re-entry, even if visas remain valid.

Industry backlash

The order has sparked a backlash across corporate America. Business leaders warn that the $100,000 fee will not only raise costs dramatically but also disrupt ongoing projects and hurt the country’s competitiveness.

Uncertainty over how the proclamation will be enforced has added to the anxiety. Legal experts told CNBC that the lack of clarity on whether renewals and dependents would be covered has created further confusion.