H-1B visa: After Trump overhauled the H-1B visa and introduced a $100,000 fee for employers, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and JP Morgan have issued advisories for employees asking them to remain in the US and avoid international travel. Those who are not in the country are asked to return to the country before the September 21 deadline.
‘Return to US by tomorrow’: Microsoft to employees
Microsoft, in an internal memo, has asked employees to return to the US before the September 21 deadline. It also asked the employees to remain in the United States for the foreseeable future, Reuters reported.
The tech giant also said that it “strongly recommends” H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US before the deadline.
Microsoft has told employees, who are already in the US, not to leave the country to “avoid being denied reentry”. The company even asked H-4 dependents to stay in the US, even as the proclamation signed by Trump doesn’t mention them.
The employees are also advised to return to the US before the September 21 deadline.
The company is also reportedly setting up tracking for employees outside the US and admits “there isn’t much time to make sudden travel arrangements”.
‘Stay in the country for now’: Amazon
Amazon has also recommended its employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to return to the United States before the deadline that US President Donald Trump has set for the H-1B visa fee.
Jeff Bezos’ company has also asked employees on H-1B visas to stay in the US for now, Reuters reported.
‘Be in US for at least two weeks’: Meta
Meta has also advised its employees to stay in the US for at least two weeks, particularly those who are on H-1B and H-4 visas, until “practical applications” are understood, NDTV reported.
The company has instructed all employees currently outside the United States to return within 24 hours.
JP Morgan’s email
JP Morgan, in an email to employees, asked them to return to the US before 12:01 AM ET on September 21. It has also asked all H-1B visa holders to remain in the US and avoid international travel until further notice.
Although Microsoft and JP Morgan have directed their employees to return to the US before September 21 – the date after which Trump’s proclamation on H-1B comes into effect – a simple Google search about the flights shows that even if they start today, they won’t be able to reach the US before September 21.