H-1B Visa: Panic grips tech firms

Cos have asked employees to return to US immediately, avoid any international travel

- RAKESH KUMAR @ New Delhi

A sudden executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on Friday, which introduces a $100,000 fee per H-1B visa application to be paid by employers, has created panic among tech companies.

According to leaked internal memos, many employers are now urging their H-1B and H-4 visa employees to return to the US immediately and avoid any international travel for some time. The US government has announced a new rule that will add a $100,000 annual fee for each H-1B visa issued under the skilled foreign worker program.

Tech giant Microsoft reportedly sent an internal email advising all H-1B and H-4 visa holders to return to the US by September 21 and not to leave the country afterward. The company applied for over 14,000 H-1B visas this year, despite carrying out widespread layoffs.