"H-1B new policy" causes chaos! Silicon Valley urges employees to return to the US overnight, White House rushes to "patch up": "dividing old and new cases"

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An executive order from the Trump administration aiming to fundamentally reform the H-1B high-skilled talent visa program has triggered immense chaos in the American business sector.

According to Xinhua News Agency, US President Trump signed an announcement on the 19th, raising the fee for companies to apply for H-1B visas to $100,000, claiming that the move is intended to ensure that the United States attracts high-skilled talents who cannot be replaced by Americans. This news quickly erupted among the business community and immigration lawyers, who warned that current overseas H-1B visa holders might not be able to return to the U.S. smoothly after Sunday, triggering a “frenzied scramble”.

According to media reports, large companies including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and JPMorgan Chase have issued urgent notices to employees, advising H-1B visa holders to remain in the US and urging those on business trips or traveling abroad to be sure to return before midnight Sunday. HR departments worked overnight, tracking employee locations and assisting with flight bookings, with many staff forced to interrupt meetings or travel plans and rush to the airport.

Faced with collective panic from the business community, the White House urgently intervened on Saturday in an attempt to calm the situation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and anonymous officials clarified via social media and statements that the new policy only applies to future new visa applicants, does not affect existing visa holders, renewals, or even those who have participated in the 2025 lottery. The White House also emphasized that $100,000 is a one-time fee, not an annual charge. This clarification is in clear contrast to prior statements made by Commerce Secretary Lutnick beside the president.

Sudden New Policy Causes Corporate Chaos

After the policy announcement, a chaotic emergency mobilization quickly swept the US tech industry. Fearing that companies might have to pay “huge fees” for many H-1B workers, HR departments moved into action overnight.

Reports state that companies such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft warned H-1B employees not to leave the US and urged those overseas to return as soon as possible. Tech services company Cognizant also issued guidance to its H-1B staff abroad, instructing them to return before the policy takes effect. Microsoft clearly stated in an employee notice:

“If you are on H-1B status and currently in the US, you should remain in the country for the foreseeable future.”

HR staff contacted employee lists to confirm their exact location, so they could assist in booking return flights to the US if necessary. Executive recruitment consultant Nolan Church said his executive group saw messages all night, with one company’s HR assigning dozens of H-1B employees to each staff member for tracking, contacting them persistently by text to figure out their whereabouts. He said that if someone was found overseas, “they would do whatever it takes” to get them back.

The chaos also spread to individuals. Social media posts described various travel disruptions, with some people pulled out of meetings and sent directly to the airport. Hiba Anver, a partner at Erickson Immigration Group in Virginia, revealed that one of her clients was on a cruise in international waters, while others struggled to find US-bound flights on short notice. Some employees even desperately researched re-entry to the US via Guam or Hawaii.

White House Urgent Clarification, But Details Remain Unclear

After nearly 24 hours of intense market reaction, White House officials stepped in to “patch things up”. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated:

“President Trump is committed to putting American workers first. This common-sense move achieves just that by preventing companies from abusing the system and driving down wages.”

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt specified that the $100,000 is a “one-time fee” and only for “new visa applications”; travel ability for current holders is “unaffected”.

However, the clarification did not fully allay market concerns, especially since it contradicted Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s initial statement. When asked Friday whether the policy applied to current holders, he said the new visa plan would bring in over $100 billion for the U.S. Treasury and repeatedly emphasized it was an “annual” fee:

Additionally, how the policy will be implemented remains unknown. Some government agencies are still waiting for White House guidance. One U.S. official revealed that State Department staff have been told to “process as usual”. A State Department spokesperson merely stated the agency is “working closely with the White House and interagency partners to implement” the order.

Concerns and Uncertainty About the Future

The new policy has drawn widespread criticism and concern. Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner told the media that although “many companies might pay” the fee, the move will long-term hurt America’s ability to attract top global talent and ultimately “damage our economy”.

Meanwhile, India, the largest source of H-1B visas, had Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal issue a statement on social platform X expressing concern about the decision. He pointed out the move could have “humanitarian consequences”, disrupt families holding H-1B visas, and hoped US authorities could address these problems properly.

Although the White House’s clarification temporarily eased the worst-case scenario, many immigration experts believe this may be just the beginning of broader reforms. Fisher Phillips attorney Stevenson said:

“We believe this is only the first step in the government’s attack on the H-1B program.”

For those building a career on an H-1B visa, uncertainty remains high, even after the White House’s remarks.

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