admin As immigration policy uncertainty grows under the new Trump administration, major US tech firms including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have advised H-1B visa holders to avoid international travel. Legal counsel working with these companies have flagged potential immigration risks, citing the resurgence of policies that previously led to high visa denial rates.
Immigration attorneys have recommended that employees avoid leaving the country unless absolutely necessary, warning that re-entry could be jeopardised due to renewed scrutiny. During Trump’s first term, visa denial rates for H-1B applicants spiked to 15% in 2018 following tightened definitions of “specialty occupations” and restrictions on third-party placements. These restrictions were later overturned under the Biden administration, bringing denial rates below 3%. However, with Trump’s return to office, fears of renewed enforcement have resurfaced.
Concerns Mount for Indian Tech Workers and Students
The growing anxiety is particularly acute for Indian tech professionals, who make up the majority of H-1B recipients. According to a Pew report, Indian nationals accounted for 73% of all approvals in 2023. Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple were among the top sponsors of H-1B workers, with Amazon leading with over 11,000 approvals.
For many international students in the US, the H-1B visa represents a critical path from education to employment. However, the climate of unpredictability is prompting reevaluation of long-term career prospects. Tech companies have begun holding internal town halls and issuing advisory memos, urging employees to carry all immigration documentation and maintain low-risk behaviour on social media platforms.
Further fueling concern are recent proposals targeting birthright citizenship, which have raised fears among foreign workers about the future legal status of their US-born children.
With thousands of skilled workers navigating long green card backlogs and increasing political volatility, the tech sector is bracing for renewed turbulence. For now, precaution and preparation remain the prevailing strategies for visa holders trying to secure their footing in the US.
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