Amid the impending implementation of US President Donald Trump’s H-1B visa overhaul, tech giants Amazon and Microsoft on Saturday advised their foreign employees holding H-1B and H-4 visas to remain in the United States and urged those currently abroad to return before the new rules take effect.
Internal communications seen by Reuters show Amazon advising H-1B holders already in the US to stay put, while recommending those outside the country return before 12:00 AM EDT on September 21, when the Trump administration’s new regulations become effective.
“If you have H-1B status and are in the US, stay in the country for now,” Amazon stated, adding, “We recommend H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US before 12:00 AM EDT on September 21.”
Similarly, Microsoft cautioned its employees, urging H-1B and H-4 visa holders to stay in the US “for the foreseeable future” and strongly recommended those abroad return before the deadline.
“H-1B visa holders should stay in the US for the foreseeable future. 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,” Microsoft said in its internal email.
The advisories come in response to Trump’s presidential proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers”, which imposes a USD 100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, effective September 21. The administration claims the move is aimed at preventing widespread abuse of the H-1B programme, particularly by IT outsourcing firms accused of displacing American workers and suppressing wages.
The proclamation also highlights national security concerns, citing investigations into visa fraud and money laundering involving companies heavily reliant on the H-1B programme. Employers must now provide proof of fee payment when filing petitions, with enforcement overseen by the US Departments of State and Homeland Security, while limited exemptions remain for cases in the national interest.
