US tech giants like Microsoft are urging their employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to rush back to the United States right away. The clock is ticking toward a September 21 deadline set by President Donald Trump, when a hefty $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas kicks in.
This new rule from the US administration slaps a $100,000 fee on each H-1B visa for the next 12 months. Trump says it will rake in more than $100 billion for the US Treasury, helping pay down national debt and fund tax cuts. But critics aren’t buying it—they argue the fee blocks talented workers from moving freely and hurts innovation in key industries like tech.
Reports show companies such as Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase are telling H-1B visa holders already in the US to stick around and skip international trips for now. Microsoft even advises H-4 visa holders—often spouses of H-1B workers—to stay put in the country. One internal message reportedly pushes them: “We strongly recommend H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US tomorrow before the deadline.” Neither company has issued an official comment yet.
The stakes are high for Indian tech professionals, who make up about 71% of all H-1B visa holders. Many work at firms like Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, and Tata Consultancy Services. These visas let US companies bring in skilled foreign talent for jobs in technology, engineering, and more. They last up to three years and can renew for another three, but the long wait—sometimes decades—for green cards already frustrates everyone involved.
That $100,000 yearly H-1B visa fee could make it way tougher and costlier for companies to keep these experts on board. After the announcement, shares in major Indian IT services firms, including those listed in the US, tumbled 2% to 5%. As the deadline looms, tech workers and businesses are bracing for how this shakes up the global talent flow.
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