Meta and Microsoft have issued urgent advisories to their H-1B visa employees following US President Donald Trump’s latest immigration crackdown. Internal emails accessed on Saturday revealed that the two tech giants advised foreign workers not to leave the United States for at least 14 days and instructed those currently abroad to return within 24 hours to avoid possible denial of re-entry.
Meta’s advisory specifically urged its H-1B and H4 visa holders to remain in the US until “practical applications” of Trump’s new orders are clarified. Employees living outside the US were asked to “seriously consider” returning within 24 hours. Microsoft went further, strongly advising workers not to travel outside the US and asking those already abroad to do their best to return immediately. Both companies signaled that these directives could remain in place “for the foreseeable future.”
On Friday, President Trump announced a dramatic hike in H-1B visa fees, raising the cost to $100,000 per year from the existing $215. The H-1B visa program is primarily used by technology professionals, including software engineers and IT managers, and Indians form the largest share of its recipients at over 70%. The new fee, the administration said, is meant to incentivize companies to hire American workers, while keeping pathways open only for “extraordinary” foreign talent.
Alongside the H-1B fee hike, the Trump administration announced the introduction of a “Gold Card” visa program. These include the Trump Gold Card, Trump Platinum Card, and Trump Corporate Gold Card, aimed at individuals and businesses. The new program is expected to replace many employment-based visas that currently offer paths to citizenship for professors, scientists, athletes, and artists.
The policy has triggered alarm among Indian IT firms and US-based tech companies that rely heavily on H-1B visa talent. With India being the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas, followed by China at just under 12%, the sudden change could disrupt thousands of careers and impact global operations of US tech companies. The immediate response from Meta and Microsoft underscores the uncertainty among tech employers and foreign workers. For many, the message is clear: stay put in the US, or risk losing legal entry under the new rules.
