President Trump has announced a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. skilled worker visa system, introducing a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visas and launching a new "gold card" program. The H-1B fee, which applies to new applicants and can extend for up to six years, is designed to discourage companies from relying on lower-wage foreign workers and instead push them to hire Americans. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the changes will ensure that only the most valuable foreign workers are admitted.

The impact of this policy was felt immediately when Trump issued a surprise executive order applying the $100,000 fee to all new and renewed H-1B applications, effective September 21.

The order also blocks H-1B holders from reentering the U.S. without their employer paying the fee. Tech and finance companies scrambled to respond. Amazon, which employs nearly 15,000 H-1B workers, told staff not to attempt reentry after the deadline.

Microsoft warned that the order left "little time" to adjust and advised workers to remain in the U.S. to avoid being locked out. Meta and JPMorgan issued similar guidance, urging employees overseas to return within 24 hours if possible. The disruption highlighted the dependence of major U.S. companies on foreign-born engineers and developers.