Meta, Microsoft Urge H-1B Workers to Return to US Within 24 Hours Amid Visa Fee Hike

Meta, Microsoft Urge H-1B Holders to Stay in US After Trump’s Visa Crackdown.

Tech giants Meta and Microsoft on Saturday advised their H-1B visa employees to remain in the US for at least 14 days and urged those currently abroad to return within 24 hours following President Donald Trump’s latest immigration restrictions. The advisories aim to prevent H-1B workers from being denied re-entry amid confusion over the new rules.

Trump’s executive order includes a $100,000 annual fee for new H-1B visa applicants, a sharp rise from the existing $215, intended to encourage companies to hire American workers. The fee applies only to new petitions and not to current visa holders or renewals, officials clarified.

The H-1B visa program, mainly used by technology professionals such as software engineers and IT managers, has historically seen India as the top beneficiary, accounting for 71% of approvals last year, followed by China at 11.7%.

The Trump administration also unveiled a Gold Card visa program for individuals and businesses, offering special privileges and seeking to replace traditional employment-based visas.