H-1B visa fee hike: Tech giants Microsoft, Meta, Amazon urge employees to be back in US before Sep 21 deadline

The move may also have a chilling effect on international students seeking admission to US universities, since many of them hope to find jobs through the H-1B process upon graduation, she said.

Tech giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have issued advisories instructing employees on H-1B visas who are currently outside the United States to return before September 21, when US President Donald Trump’s new executive order imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visas is set to take effect.

Employees with H-1B visas who are in the United States have been advised to remain in the country for the foreseeable future.

On September 19, Trump signed a proclamation that requires companies to pay $100,000 per year for every H-1B visa application or renewal, a move that is expected to have a significant impact on the tech industry which employs a large number of skilled workers from foreign countries such as India and China.

Read: $100,000 visa wall: How Trump’s H-1B move could reset India-US talent, tech and hiring

What do the advisories say?

In its advisory, Microsoft 'strongly recommended' employees on H-1B or H-4 visa who are currently outside the United States to "do what you can to return to the U.S. tomorrow before the deadline"

"We realize that there isn't much time to make sudden travel arrangements. But again, we strongly encourage you to do your best to return," the company said.

For H-1B employees within the United States, Microsoft acknowledged that this order "may interrupt your travel plans. But the critical thing is to stay in the United States in order to avoid being denied re-entry."

"At this time, we do not interpret this to immediately impact extensions of H-1B status or changes of status to H-1B as long as you are currently in the U.S," the company said.

"I know these developments are creating uncertainty for many of you. While we don't have all of the answers right now, we ask that you prioritise the recommendations above" it added.

Meta has also advised its employees with H-1B or H-4 visas to stay in the United States for at least two weeks and those outside the country to consider returning within the next 24 hours.

Amazon’s advisory urged employees to remain in the United States for the immediate future and advised those currently abroad to return before the deadline. JPMorgan has also reportedly sent a similar advisory to its employees. Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon are yet to respond to Moneycontrol's queries on this matter.

Big Tech firms lead H-1B Visa approvals

Tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Apple are among the largest recipients of H-1B visas, with Amazon leading the pack. Amazon has secured over 10,000 H-1B visa approvals in the first half of 2025, while Microsoft and Meta each have more than 5,000. Google and Apple have received over 4,000 approvals apiece.

Earlier today, Moneycontrol reported that the Indian government is assessing the fallout of US President Donald Trump’s decision.

A senior government official told Moneycontrol that New Delhi is in touch with the Indian Embassy in Washington and is holding consultations with Indian tech industry body Nasscom. “There will be an immediate fallout. We have to see how companies adapt to it,” the official noted.

The official stressed that the new costs are likely to weigh more heavily on American technology firms, which rely heavily on Indian professionals for specialised roles.

At the same time, India sees a potential upside. “In a positive sense, more companies will be setting up global capability centres (GCCs) to meet the shortage of talent,” the official added.