Big Tech and finance companies are telling H-1B employees to get to the US in under 24 hours

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Source: Business Insider

EXCLUSIVE
Big Tech and finance companies are telling H-1B employees to get to the US in under 24 hours

By Pranav Dixit
Sep 20, 2025, 3:09 AM ET

* President Donald Trump's executive order raises H-1B visa fees, affecting tech and finance workers.
* The order requires a $100,000 fee for H-1B applications.
* Big Tech employees were told to stay put, per employees and internal comms reviewed by Business Insider.

Employees at major tech and financial companies on H-1B visas were told to stay in the US following President Donald Trump's surprise executive order that makes it far more expensive — and potentially impossible — for them to return if they travel abroad. … Amazon, Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Meta are among those companies, per employees and internal communications reviewed by Business Insider.

On Friday, Trump signed an executive order requiring companies to pay a $100,000 fee for each H-1B application or renewal. The order, which takes effect on September 21 at 12:01 a.m. ET, effectively bars H-1B workers from reentering the country after that deadline unless their sponsoring employer pays the fee.

Amazon's internal guidance, posted just before 9 p.m. Pacific on Friday on its HR portal, warned employees: "If you have H-1B status and are in the US: Stay in the country for now, even if you have travel planned for the immediate future."

The guidance also said: "If you have H-1B or H-4 status and are outside the US: Try to return before tomorrow's deadline if possible."

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Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/big-tech-employees-h-1b-visa-travel-return-trump-eo-2025-9