The "H-1B New Policy" causes chaos! Silicon Valley urges employees to return to the U.S. overnight, and the White House urgently "patches" it: "New and old distinctions"

The Trump administration's executive order aimed at overhauling the H-1B high-skilled talent visa program has caused significant turmoil in the U.S. business community.

According to Xinhua News Agency, U.S. President Trump signed an announcement on the 19th, raising the fees that companies must pay for H-1B visa applicants to $100,000, stating that this move aims to ensure that the U.S. attracts high-skilled talent that cannot be replaced by Americans. This news quickly ignited a frenzy among businesses and immigration lawyers, who warned that H-1B visa holders currently overseas might not be able to return to the U.S. smoothly after Sunday, leading to a "mad scramble."

Media reports indicate that large companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and JP Morgan, have issued urgent notices to employees, advising H-1B visa holders to remain in the U.S. and urging employees traveling or on business overseas to return before midnight on Sunday. Human resources departments worked overnight, tracking employee locations and assisting with flight bookings, with many employees forced to interrupt meetings or travel plans to rush to the airport.

In response to the collective panic in the business community, the White House intervened urgently on Saturday in an attempt to calm the situation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and anonymous officials clarified through social media and statements that the new policy only applies to future visa applicants and does not affect current visa holders, visa renewals, or even those who have participated in the 2025 lottery. At the same time, the White House emphasized that the $100,000 fee is a one-time charge, not an annual fee. This clarification stands in stark contrast to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo's earlier statements made alongside the President.

Sudden New Policy Triggers Chaos in Businesses

Following the announcement of the new policy, a chaotic emergency mobilization quickly unfolded in the U.S. tech industry. Fearing that companies might need to pay "huge fees" for a large number of H-1B employees, human resources departments sprang into action overnight.

Reports indicate that companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft warned H-1B visa holders not to leave the U.S. and urged employees overseas to return as soon as possible. Tech services company Cognizant also issued guidance to its H-1B employees outside the U.S., instructing them to return before the announcement takes effect. Microsoft explicitly stated in its notice to employees:

"If you are on an H-1B visa and are in the U.S., you should remain in the U.S. for the foreseeable future."

Human resources personnel contacted employees individually to confirm their specific locations to assist with booking return flights if necessary. Executive recruitment consultant Nolan Church stated that his executive group was inundated with messages throughout the night, with one company's HR even assigning tracking tasks for dozens of H-1B employees to each staff member, "aggressively contacting them" via text to determine their whereabouts. He noted that if anyone was found to be abroad, "they would do everything possible" to bring them back.

This chaos also extended to employees personally. Posts on social media described various travel disruptions, with some being pulled from meetings and sent directly to the airport. Hiba Anver, a partner at the Erickson Immigration Group law firm in Virginia, revealed that one of her clients was on a cruise in international waters at the time, However, some other customers find it difficult to find flights back to the United States in a short time. Some employees are even desperately researching the feasibility of returning to the U.S. via Guam or Hawaii.

White House Emergency Clarification, but Details Remain Uncertain

After triggering a sharp market reaction for nearly 24 hours, White House officials stepped in to "patch things up." White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated:

"President Trump is committed to putting American workers first, and this common-sense measure is achieved by preventing companies from abusing the system and driving down wages."

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explicitly pointed out that the $100,000 is a "one-time fee" and only applies to "new visa applications," while the travel ability of existing holders "is not affected."

However, this clarification failed to completely dispel market concerns, especially since it contradicted the initial statement made by Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. When asked on Friday whether the policy applies to existing holders, she stated that the new visa program would bring over $100 billion to the U.S. Treasury. She also repeatedly emphasized that this is an "annual" fee.

Moreover, how the new policy will be specifically implemented remains unknown. Some government agencies are still waiting for guidance from the White House. A U.S. official revealed that the current directive received by State Department staff is to "process as usual." A State Department spokesperson merely stated that the agency is "working closely with the White House and interagency partners to implement" the order.

Concerns from All Sides and Future Uncertainty

This new policy has drawn criticism and concerns from multiple parties. Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner told the media that although "many companies may pay" this fee, the decision will long-term harm the ability of the U.S. to attract top global talent, ultimately "harming our economy."

Meanwhile, India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed concern over the decision on social platform X, noting that this move could have "humanitarian consequences," disrupting families holding H-1B visas, and hoping that U.S. authorities can properly address these issues.

Although the White House's clarification temporarily alleviated the worst-case scenario, many immigration experts believe that this may just be the beginning of broader reforms. Stevenson, an attorney at Fisher Phillips, stated:

"We believe this is just the first step in the government's attack on the H-1B program."

For those employees relying on H-1B visas to build their careers, uncertainty remains high even after the White House's clarification.

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