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Big companies like Meta and Microsoft gathered on Saturday morning and advised all their H-1B visa holders to stay in the US for at least the next two weeks, following President Donald Trump’s new crackdown on immigrants and restrictions on legal immigration. Emails obtained by NDTV Profit revealed that these companies also encouraged their employees who are outside the US to return within 24 hours to prevent being denied re-entry. The messages instructed international employees to follow these guidelines for an indefinite period. Meta suggested that its H-1B visa and H4 status holders remain in the US for a minimum of two weeks while more details are clarified and advised those abroad to think about coming back within 24 hours. In contrast, Microsoft insisted that its employees in the US stay where they are to avoid any re-entry issues. It also encouraged those outside the country to "try their best to return."
The H-1B visa program in the US is designated for individuals working in specialized jobs, mostly within the tech sector. This includes software developers, program managers in tech, and various IT experts. These visas are typically valid for three years and can be renewed for an additional three years. On Friday, President Trump significantly raised the annual fee for the H-1B visa for skilled foreign workers to $100,000—this change will greatly affect Indians employed by tech companies and others. While signing the proclamation at the White House, Trump stated that the goal is to "encourage the hiring of American workers." This initiative aims to safeguard American jobs while allowing companies to hire "truly exceptional individuals" to come to the US, according to the administration.
If these changes withstand legal challenges, they will result in enormous price hikes. The fee for skilled worker visas will increase from $215. The costs for investor visas, frequently seen in various European nations, will rise from $10,000-$20,000 each year. The administration also introduced a Gold Card visa program, which includes the Trump Gold Card, Trump Platinum Card for individuals, and the Trump Corporate Gold Card for businesses. These cards offer special benefits and aim to replace work-related visas that provide pathways to citizenship for professors, scientists, artists, and athletes. Last year, India was the top recipient of H-1B visas, making up 71% of the approved applicants, while China came in second at 11.7%, as per government statistics.
