U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he sits subsequent to a “Trump Gold Card” signal, within the Oval Workplace on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., Sept. 19, 2025.
Ken Cedeno | Reuters
Main expertise firms and overseas governments are speeding to reply after President Donald Trump late Friday introduced plans to impose a $100,000 annual price on H-1B visas, threatening to upend this system that underpins America’s expertise workforce.
The Trump administration mentioned the price would apply per employee, per 12 months, probably dealing a large blow to firms — primarily within the expertise and finance sectors — that rely closely on extremely expert immigrants, significantly from India and China.
The announcement despatched shockwaves via company America. Amazon’s immigration workforce suggested its H-1B and H-4 visa holders to stay within the U.S. and for these abroad to return earlier than 12:01 a.m. ET on Sept. 21, in keeping with inside messages considered by CNBC.
JPMorgan Chase’s legislation agency despatched a memo asking H-1B visa holders on the agency to stay within the U.S. and keep away from worldwide journey till additional steerage, in keeping with an individual accustomed to the matter.
Microsoft additionally has reportedly suggested H-1B visa holders to stay within the U.S. and for these abroad to return, warning that worldwide journey may jeopardize their immigration standing, in keeping with emails seen by Reuters.
The transfer represents the administration’s most aggressive transfer but to limit authorized immigration. Since taking workplace in January, Trump has superior a broad crackdown on each unlawful and authorized entry into the U.S., however Friday’s announcement marks essentially the most important try and clamp down on employment visas.
Amazon employed essentially the most H-1B holders — greater than 14,000 as of the top of June. Microsoft, Meta, Apple and Google had over 4,000 such visas every, among the many high 10 recipients for the fiscal 12 months 2025.
CNBC has reached out to all the public firms on the highest 10 H-1B recipient checklist for remark. The White Home did not instantly reply to an electronic mail asking for remark.
‘Humanitarian penalties’
The announcement additionally disrupted the established order abroad, the place overseas governments scrambled to evaluate the influence of the brand new guidelines on their international locations.
India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs mentioned it’s learning the visa restrictions and their implications, stressing that each Indian and U.S. industries share an curiosity in sustaining competitiveness in innovation. It additionally highlighted the seemingly disruption to particular person households.
“This measure is prone to have humanitarian penalties by the use of the disruption triggered for households. Authorities hopes that these disruptions may be addressed suitably by the US authorities,” India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs mentioned in an announcement.
South Korea’s overseas ministry additionally mentioned it’s assessing the implications for Korean corporations and expert staff.
Beneath is a searchable checklist of the highest 100 U.S. firms which were H1-B recipients in fiscal 12 months 2025.
— CNBC’s Annie Palmer contributed to this report.
