H-1B shockwave: How the $100,000 visa fee is forcing Microsoft, Amazon and JPMorgan to act

Why are H-1B visa holders being told to avoid overseas travel by major tech companies in 2025?

Tech companies across the United States have issued urgent advisories to their employees holding H-1B visas, warning them to refrain from traveling overseas after a sweeping new executive order from President Donald Trump. The order, which took effect on September 21, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, imposes a $100,000 fee on certain H-1B visa petitions, dramatically reshaping the economics of America’s most important skilled worker program.

Industry leaders including Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and JPMorgan Chase have advised their staff to remain in the U.S. until there is more clarity around the policy. Immigration attorneys are also cautioning that workers currently abroad could face denial of reentry or be subject to the new fee structure, creating unprecedented uncertainty for thousands of employees and their families.

The H-1B program has long been a pillar of the U.S. technology and financial sectors, drawing highly skilled workers from India, China, and other countries. With the new rule, companies fear disruptions to projects, operational risks if staff are stranded outside the U.S., and long-term challenges to talent mobility.

What does Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee order actually require from employers?

The executive order requires employers to pay a $100,000 fee for certain H-1B applications, particularly those filed from outside the United States or involving new petitions after international travel. While the administration clarified that existing H-1B holders renewing their visas inside the U.S. are not subject to the fee, the lack of clarity around reentry rules has triggered panic among employees and employers alike.

Dependents under the H-4 visa category, often spouses and children of H-1B workers, are also caught in the uncertainty. If their status changes require a new filing after leaving the U.S., they too could fall under the fee requirement. Immigration lawyers say the ambiguity in the proclamation leaves workers exposed to risks that could alter their legal status overnight.

How are Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and JPMorgan responding to the new H-1B restrictions?

Microsoft circulated internal guidance urging its H-1B and H-4 employees not to travel internationally and to return to the U.S. immediately if abroad before the deadline. The company emphasized that leaving the country could jeopardize an employee’s ability to reenter under the new rules.

Amazon issued a similar directive, asking employees to return to the U.S. before the order went into effect and advising those already in the country to postpone non-essential overseas travel.

Meta instructed its H-1B staff to remain in the U.S. while the company studies the practical application of the new fee requirement. JPMorgan Chase, through its immigration counsel, also told employees to avoid travel and warned that reentry risks were high under the new framework.

These advisories reflect a coordinated corporate effort to protect critical talent pipelines. For firms with thousands of H-1B workers, even a small proportion being stranded abroad could disrupt product timelines, client commitments, or regulatory compliance obligations.

What are immigration experts warning H-1B and H-4 visa holders about travel risks?

Immigration attorneys have stressed that workers abroad face the highest risks. Those attempting to reenter after the executive order may be required to pay the $100,000 fee or could be denied entry outright if their petition is considered a new application.

Experts also point out that the legal basis for the fee could face challenges. Visa fee structures are typically set through congressional legislation, not presidential proclamation, meaning lawsuits could follow. Until then, uncertainty dominates. Families on H-4 visas are in limbo as well, particularly spouses with work authorization whose status depends on timely petition renewals.

One attorney observed that the ambiguity itself is part of the problem: while some renewals inside the U.S. are unaffected, the distinction between “renewal” and “new petition” can hinge on technical definitions that vary case by case. For employees and their employers, the safest course is to avoid creating a scenario that requires new filings.

What does this mean for companies relying on H-1B talent and their operational strategies?

The financial burden of a $100,000 fee per petition changes the equation for employers. Large technology companies may absorb the cost, but smaller startups, consulting firms, and mid-tier players will feel the impact much more acutely. This could lead to hiring freezes, wage adjustments, or an increased reliance on offshore centers rather than relocating talent to the U.S.

Operationally, companies are facing new travel restrictions that complicate project assignments. Employees may be reluctant to accept overseas postings or client visits if reentry becomes uncertain. Human resources departments are under pressure to reassess corporate travel policies, while legal teams prepare for compliance reviews and contingency planning.

The risk of stranded employees also carries reputational costs. Firms could lose trust with clients if key staff are unable to fulfill contractual obligations because of visa complications.

How does this order affect the broader H-1B ecosystem and U.S. immigration policy?

The H-1B program has historically served as a bridge between U.S. companies and global talent, particularly in sectors like software engineering, financial services, and biotech research. With India supplying nearly three-quarters of H-1B petitions annually, the impact of this order will reverberate internationally.

Diplomatic tensions may rise as governments like India’s weigh in on behalf of their citizens. Bilateral negotiations on trade and immigration could take on new urgency if large numbers of Indian workers are stranded or penalized. The perception of the U.S. as a welcoming destination for skilled immigrants could also erode, undermining long-term competitiveness.

In the broader context, the Trump administration’s order signals a hardening stance on employment-based immigration. It follows earlier moves to tighten student visa rules, restrict Optional Practical Training programs, and scrutinize employment-based green cards. The cumulative effect is a chilling signal to international talent pools.

How are investors and markets reacting to the H-1B fee increase and corporate travel advisories?

Market reaction has been muted but cautious. Shares of Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have not shown immediate sharp declines, but investor commentary has flagged the potential long-term risks of higher compliance costs and workforce disruptions.

Analysts note that the fee will hit labor-intensive IT services firms especially hard, including Indian outsourcing giants that rely heavily on H-1B transfers. While mega-cap tech companies may be able to absorb the fees, the cumulative financial burden across the sector could impact margins, hiring trends, and global expansion strategies.

Institutional investors are watching for signals of legal challenges that could overturn or suspend the order. If lawsuits gain traction, market sentiment may improve. Until then, the uncertainty will likely be reflected in conservative forecasts for tech and consulting companies with significant H-1B dependency.

Will the $100,000 H-1B visa fee fundamentally alter Indian IT’s U.S. talent pipeline and the global tech services industry?

The executive order has already had an immediate effect: major companies are telling their foreign staff to stay inside the United States. That reflects the extraordinary risks associated with overseas travel under the new framework.

Longer term, the $100,000 fee introduces a structural challenge for both employers and employees. It raises the cost of hiring skilled foreign workers, undermines mobility, and injects legal uncertainty into an already complex immigration system. While large corporations may weather the storm, smaller firms and international workers will struggle.

The impact will not be confined to the U.S. Domestic policy decisions are already reverberating in India, where families of H-1B workers are now reconsidering plans and businesses are assessing whether to expand operations locally rather than abroad.

The broader question is whether the U.S. risks damaging its own innovation pipeline by discouraging the very workers who have fueled the growth of its technology and finance sectors for decades. Until courts or clarifications resolve the ambiguities, the safest strategy for H-1B holders is to stay put—and for companies, to prepare for a future where immigration costs and risks are significantly higher.