Amazon has issued a strong advisory to employees holding H-1B and H-4 visas, urging them to remain in the United States as new immigration rules under President Donald Trump come into effect.
In a note seen by Reuters, the e-commerce giant said, “If you have H-1B status and are in the US, stay in the country for now.” The company further recommended that all affected employees return to the US before 12:00 am EDT on September 21, ahead of the new policy deadline.
The guidance comes just days after Trump signed a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa applications, a sweeping move that could reshape the future of skilled foreign workers in the US tech industry.
Microsoft and JPMorgan Issue Similar Advisories
Amazon is not the only tech major sounding the alarm. Microsoft has also asked its H-1B and H-4 visa holders to return to the country before the deadline, stressing: “We strongly recommend H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US tomorrow before the deadline.”
Meanwhile, JPMorgan’s external immigration counsel has advised employees on these visas to avoid international travel until further notice.
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown and H-1B Overhaul
Since taking office in January, President Trump has tightened immigration rules, even targeting some categories of legal immigration. A central pillar of this crackdown is the overhaul of the H-1B visa program, which allows American companies to employ skilled foreign workers in technology and other specialized fields.
Under the new rule, employers will be required to pay $100,000 annually per H-1B worker, a sharp departure from the current system where visa-related fees total only a few thousand dollars. The rule is set to take effect on September 21 and will initially remain in place for 12 months, though Trump retains the option to extend it.
India and China Most Impacted
The move is expected to hit the technology sector hard, especially companies that rely heavily on talent from India and China. According to government data cited by Reuters, India accounted for 71% of H-1B approvals last year, while China was second with 11.7%.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed Trump’s stance, saying: “If you’re going to train somebody, you’re going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs.”
He added that the proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee would apply annually across its three-year term, though final specifics are “still being considered.”
