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Microsoft advises H-1B and H-4 visa holders to remain in the United States after the US administration’s annual H-1B visa fee hike.
Visa Fee Hike Pushes Microsoft to Call Back H-1B, H-4 Workers Abroad
H-1B Visa Fee Hike: Following the H-1B visa annual fee hike by the US administration, tech giant Microsoft has issued an advisory to its H-1B and H-4 visa holders to stay in the United States in the foreseeable, according to a Reuters report citing the internal email. JP Morgan, an asset management giant, also advised its employees to return to the US before the visa fee hike deadline.
Microsoft also advised employees currently abroad to return to the US by September 21, ahead of the deadline.
In the internal email to employees, Microsoft noted as cited by Reuters, “We strongly recommend H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US tomorrow before the deadline.”
Trump administration has hiked the annual fee for H-1B visas to a staggering $100,000, a decision expected to significantly impact businesses that rely on high-skilled foreign talent, particularly from India and China.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations that require technical or theoretical expertise, such as in IT, engineering, finance, healthcare, and science. It is one of the most common ways for skilled workers from countries like India and China to work in the U.S. temporarily.
The H-4 visa is a dependent visa issued by the United States to immediate family members—spouses and unmarried children under 21 years—of H-1B visa holders. It allows them to live in the US for the duration of the H-1B worker’s stay.
Trump’s proclamation takes effect from 12:01 am EDT on September 21, 2025 (9:31 am IST), the same day. From that moment, no H-1B worker can enter the US unless the sponsoring employer pays a $100,000 fee. Employers must provide proof of this fee, and the Departments of State and Homeland Security have been directed to reject any petition that does not include it. The restriction will remain in force for 12 months, unless extended.
A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al…Read More
A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al… Read More
September 20, 2025, 10:16 IST
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