Confusion and panic all around.
Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday that his administration will impose a $100,000 annual fee on H1-B visa applications, which allows foreign laborers in specialty occupations to work in the United States, has sent industries and governments into a spiral of confusion. With the policy set to go into effect Sunday, Big Tech companies are reportedly telling H-1B holders in their workforces to either remain in the United States or return from overseas before the new policy is enacted, according to CNBC.
According to the report, Amazon sent a memo to its employees advising workers on an H-1B or H-4 visa holders (given to dependent family members of H-1B workers) to return from overseas before 12:01 a.m. ET on September 21. Microsoft reportedly sent out a similar message, warning its employees that the Trump administration’s policy is “structured as a travel restriction” and international travel could put their worker status at risk. It advised H-1B visa holders to cancel future travel plans and remain in the US “for the foreseeable future.
