Microsoft has asked its H-1B and H-4 visa employees to return to the United States before September 21. The advisory came after President Donald Trump imposed a $100,000 annual fee on the visa program.An internal email, reviewed by Reuters, urged employees to act immediately. Those already in the US were told to remain there “for the foreseeable future.” The company strongly recommended that visa holders outside the country return by September 20.
JPMorgan issued a similar advisory to its staff. It asked H-1B employees abroad to re-enter the US before the September 21 deadline.Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the new rules. He said earlier visa policies allowed low-wage workers who relied on government aid. He argued that the new policy would remove the “bottom quartile” while adding over $100 billion to the US Treasury.
President Trump stated that the revenue would cut national debt and reduce taxes. However, the fee has created concern in India, as about 71% of H-1B visa holders are Indian.Indian IT companies like Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, and TCS rely heavily on H-1B visas. Industry leaders fear higher costs and reduced talent mobility in the tech sector.
