Panic and confusion gripped H-1B visa holders in India and China after President Donald Trump imposed new visa fees. Tech companies and banks sent urgent memos to employees, advising them to return to the US before a deadline. The new fee order applies only to new applicants and not existing visas or renewals, but it still caused widespread anxiety among workers.
Several Indian nationals at San Francisco airport cut short their vacations after hearing about the new rule. They were forced to deplane due to concerns they wouldn’t be allowed back in the US once the new policy took effect. The Trump administration claims that the H-1B visa program allows companies to suppress wages, but supporters argue that it brings highly skilled workers essential to filling talent gaps.
The US government has clarified that no action is required for staff currently holding H-1B visas, according to a source who viewed an internal portal. However, some companies, like IBM and Netflix, expressed support for the new policy, saying it will provide more certainty for those who get the H-1B visas. The new fee order has sparked debate over the impact of the H-1B visa program on the US labor market.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/fast-furious-h-1b-workers-abroad-race-us-trump-order-sparks-dismay-confusion-2025-09-21