Amazon, Google, Microsoft Advise H-1B Workers Against Travel

Major tech firms are advising employees on H-1B visas to avoid international travel following a sudden policy change from the White House.

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation introducing a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, a dramatic shift in the long-standing program used heavily by technology companies. The new rule takes effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday.

In response, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have reportedly issued internal memos warning their H-1B workers to stay in the United States until the situation becomes clearer. Employees already abroad have been urged to return before the proclamation is enforced. Business Insider published the memos from Amazon and Microsoft, while another outlet shared a similar communication from Google. Microsoft declined to comment publicly, and TechCrunch said it has also reached out to the companies for statements.

According to U.S. government data, Amazon has secured the most H-1B visas this fiscal year, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple. Google ranked sixth.

The White House has sought to downplay concerns. A senior official told Axios that the new fee will apply only to new applicants, not existing H-1B holders or renewals. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this in a post on X, writing:

“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.”

The conflicting guidance from the companies and the White House highlights the uncertainty surrounding the rule, leaving thousands of H-1B workers—many of them in the tech industry—unsure about how it will affect their mobility and future employment.