Trump’s US$I00k visa fee causes confusion and chaos

US says move affects only new applicants, not renewals or current H-IB visa holders

- Madeleine Ngo, Lauren Hirsch and Pranav Baskar

Wall Street banks and tech companies big and small were scrambling on Sept 20 to figure out how their tens of thousands of employees would be affected by US President Donald Trump’s proclamation imposing a US$100,000 (S$130,000) fee for visas granted to skilled foreign workers.

The change set off immediate confusion over the exact rules and how they would be enforced.

Shortly after Mr Trump signed the proclamation on Sept 19, employees at Microsoft, Amazon and JPMorgan received notices advising those with H-1B visas who were outside the US to return before the new rules take effect at 12.0lam Eastern time (12.0lpm Singapore time) on Sept 21.

The Trump administration sought to address the confusion on Sept 20 by saying that the fee would apply only to new applicants, and renewals or current visa holders would not be affected.

In a post on social media, the White House said the change would “not impact the ability of any current visa holder to travel to/from the US”.

Still, many executives, general counsel and human resources departments, as well as their immigration lawyers, said they are coming down on the side of caution.

Several companies and attorneys urged workers to return to the US as soon as possible. Many kept their eyes glued on the White House social media accounts for any pertinent clarification.

“We acknowledge that this is an uncertain time for our people on H-1B visas and your families,” Ms Jacqueline Arthur, head of human capital management at Goldman Sachs, wrote ina memo on Sept 20 to employees.

The memo said Goldman is working with its lawyers “to review the specifics of the order as more detail becomes available to communicate with you accordingly”.

Mr Bernhard Mueller, co-chair of the immigration practice group at Ogletree Deakins, said he was flooded with calls from executives and corporate board members about the new rules and how to communicate with employees.