Tech giants are scrambling to protect their foreign workers after President Donald Trump’s latest move on immigration.
On Friday, the White House announced that Trump had signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, up from just $215. In response, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft reportedly emailed employees urging those with H-1B visas to remain in the U.S. and avoid foreign travel. Employees already abroad were told to return before the proclamation takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday.
Business Insider published the memos from Amazon and Microsoft, while Sources reported a similar directive from Google. A Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment, and TechCrunch has reached out to Amazon and Google.
According to government data, Amazon has received the most H-1B visas so far this fiscal year, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple, with Google ranked sixth.
The White House has tried to calm concerns. A senior official told Axios the new fee only applies to new applications, not renewals. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also posted on X that:
“H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterday’s proclamation.”
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Still, tech companies remain on high alert, as many of their employees rely on H-1B visas to work in the U.S. The policy shift is already fueling fears of a talent drain to more immigration-friendly countries.
