Big Tech responds to White House’s stance on H-1B visas

Amazon, Microsoft warn visa holders against travelling abroad

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US President Trump’s plan to charge foreign workers for visas to live and work in the US has drawn sharp criticism from businesses. In response to the announcement, several companies have issued travel advisories to their employees holding H-1B visas.

The White House announced plans for a $100,000 (€85,200) fee on new applications for the H-1B visa has sent shockwaves through major technology and financial companies. The charge does not apply to existing visa holders or renewals and will be implemented for the first time in the next lottery cycle for new visas.

Amazon has advised its visa holders to remain in the US and those abroad to return by a certain deadline. JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Microsoft have also warned their employees not to travel abroad, citing potential risks to their immigration status.

This is seen as the Trump administration’s most aggressive move yet to restrict legal immigration, aiming to curb work visas that technology and financial companies heavily rely on. Major tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google are among the top recipients of H-1B visas, with Amazon employing more than 14,000 visa holders as of June 2025.

The announcement has also raised concerns among foreign governments. India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences for families affected by the visa restrictions and emphasized the shared interest of Indian and American industries in maintaining their competitive edge in innovation. South Korea is also assessing the impact on Korean companies and skilled workers.

Despite the turmoil, shares of major US technology companies remained relatively stable. This suggests that investors are cautiously optimistic about the long-term effects of the change in visa fees. However, the real impact of this policy change on the US technology sector and its reliance on highly skilled immigrants from countries like India and China remains to be seen.

Business AM

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