⚖️ Tech Giants and H-1B Changes

Author

Liam Gill
September 23, 2025

Tech Giants Urge Caution Amid H-1B Shakeup

Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have reportedly warned their H-1B visa–holding employees to avoid international travel after President Trump signed a proclamation imposing a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications. The companies sent internal memos advising workers to stay in the U.S. and, if already abroad, to return before the rule takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Sunday. The move reflects how seriously Big Tech is treating the sudden change to a program central to its workforce.

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Conflicting Messages from Washington

While the companies braced for disruption, the White House sought to calm fears. An official told Axios the fee applies only to new applicants, not existing H-1B holders or renewals. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also wrote on X that current visa holders’ ability to travel “is not impacted by yesterday’s proclamation.” Still, the lack of clarity has left tech workers worried, especially given the speed at which the new fee was introduced.

The Stakes for Big Tech’s Workforce

Amazon leads all employers in H-1B approvals this fiscal year, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google. With so much of the industry reliant on high-skilled foreign talent, even perceived threats to visa stability ripple quickly across Silicon Valley. The travel warnings highlight the tension between the White House’s tougher immigration stance and the tech sector’s dependence on global talent pipelines. This clash could intensify as election-year politics heat up.

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