Microsoft, JP Morgan urge H-1B workers abroad to return to US before Trump's visa fee hike deadline

Tech giant Microsoft and financial major JP Morgan have issued urgent advisories to employees holding H-1B and H-4 visas, warning them to return to the United States before the Trump administration’s steep new visa fee rules take effect on September 21.

According to an internal email cited by Reuters, Microsoft advised: "We strongly recommend H-1B and H-4 visa holders return to the US tomorrow before the deadline." JP Morgan issued similar guidance to its global workforce, underscoring the disruption the policy is expected to cause.

The administration has raised the annual H-1B visa fee to $100,000, a historic increase likely to hit companies across technology, finance, healthcare, and engineering—industries heavily dependent on foreign professionals, especially from India and China.

Starting 12:01 am EDT on September 21 (9:31 am IST), no H-1B worker can enter the US unless their sponsoring employer pays the new fee. The Departments of State and Homeland Security have been ordered to reject non-compliant petitions, with the measure in place for at least 12 months.

The H-1B visa program allows US firms to hire skilled professionals in specialty occupations, while the H-4 visa permits spouses and children to reside in the US. Together, they have been central to the flow of high-skilled global talent into the American economy.

Industry analysts warn the fee hike could discourage global mobility, slow innovation, and weaken America’s competitiveness in the long run.