In anticipation of the implementation of President Donald Trump’s modifications to the H-1B visa program, Amazon and Microsoft advised their foreign employees holding H-1B and H-4 visas to return to the United States immediately. The companies also urged H-1B holders to remain in the US “for the foreseeable future.” Internal communications circulated to staff from Amazon and Microsoft detailed these recommendations.
Amazon, in its internal note, advised H-1B visa holders currently in the United States to stay and urged those outside the US to return before the September 21 deadline at 12:00 AM EDT. The company stated, “If you have H-1B status and are in the US, stay in the country for now.” They further recommended that H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US before the specified deadline.
Similarly, Microsoft issued an internal email with a similar advisory. Microsoft stated that H-1B and H-4 visa holders should stay in the US for the foreseeable future and strongly recommended they return before the deadline. “H-1B visa holders should stay in the US for the foreseeable future,” the email stated. “We also recommend H-4 visa holders remain in the US. We strongly recommend that all H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US by tomorrow, before the deadline,” it added.
The warnings are in response to President Trump’s new presidential proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.” This proclamation imposes a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications. The measure, effective September 21, seeks to address what the administration perceives as abuse of the H-1B program, particularly by IT outsourcing firms. These firms are accused of displacing American workers and suppressing wages.
The proclamation asserts that the original purpose of the H-1B program, which was to bring in highly skilled foreign talent, has been distorted. The administration claims that low-wage, entry-level H-1B hires have harmed American graduates and highlights national security concerns, citing investigations into visa fraud and money laundering involving companies heavily reliant on the program. The order now mandates that employers provide proof of payment when filing H-1B petitions, with enforcement overseen by the US Departments of State and Homeland Security. Limited exemptions are available for cases considered to be in the national interest.