New regulations regarding H-1B work visas in the US have raised alarm among many tech companies, particularly Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. The companies have issued warnings to employees working on these visas and their families to return to the US without delay.

Companies are urging their employees to return to the US

This move stems from reports that a new policy, effective Sunday night, September 21, 2025, could result in an additional $100,000 fee for entry into the country.

In internal company communications, employees outside the US are urged to make immediate plans to return, while those currently in the country are advised to refrain from traveling abroad until further notice. This warning is not limited to employees; it also applies to spouses and children traveling with H-1B visa holders.

Google warned in a message to its employees that the new policy could lead to significant delays or a complete ban on re-entry. Amazon emphasized the vital importance of entering the US before midnight. Microsoft, however, described the measures as “travel restrictions.”

Following these developments, intense movement among employees began. As many people attempted to return home on last-minute flights, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement amid the panic.

Leavitt stated that existing H-1B visa holders would not have to pay any additional fees upon return to the US. However, this statement was not enough to persuade companies to withdraw their security warnings.

The H-1B visa, frequently applied for by companies operating in the US, particularly in the technology, engineering, and science sectors, allows foreign talent to be temporarily employed in the country.

The visas are obtained through employers, and visa holders are brought to the US to work in a specific position. It is also stated that the $100,000 additional payment requirement introduced by the new presidential executive order will be covered by employers.

While discussions continue, official details regarding the scope and permanence of the policy have not yet been finalized. Calls from companies to their employees to “return to the US immediately” have resonated globally.