Big Tech and finance companies are telling H-1B employees to get to the US in under 24 hours

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  Business and Finance on Sat, Sep 20th, 2025 by Business Insider

Big‑Tech Workers With H‑1B Visas Face New Travel Hurdles Under Trump’s Executive Order

In a move that has rattled some of the United States’ most high‑profile technology firms, the U.S. executive branch has re‑enacted a travel restriction that was originally imposed by the Trump administration in 2019. The order—issued in the middle of September 2025—targets foreign workers on H‑1B visas, effectively prohibiting them from re‑entering the United States after traveling abroad unless they first secure a new visa stamp. The regulation, which has been in limbo for the past three years, is finally back on the books and is already causing headaches for companies that rely on international talent.

What the Order Actually Says

According to the text, any H‑1B holder who leaves the United States and returns after more than 30 days of absence must apply for a fresh visa at a U.S. consulate abroad. Failure to do so will result in the automatic revocation of the worker’s H‑1B status, with no possibility of reinstatement through regular employment sponsorship. The measure is described as a “security‑first” approach to prevent foreign nationals from exploiting the visa system, a rationale that echoes Trump’s earlier focus on tightening immigration controls.

The executive order does not apply to other visa categories, nor does it affect U.S. citizens or green‑card holders. It is also limited to those employees who have already been in the United States for more than one year; workers in their first year of residency are exempt, a detail that has sparked confusion among hiring managers.

Why Tech Giants Are Worried

Many of the country’s largest technology firms employ a substantial number of H‑1B workers, many of whom have been living and working in the U.S. for several years. A March 2024 memo from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) already warned that this new rule would “significantly reduce the pool of eligible talent” for high‑skill roles, prompting several companies to rethink their hiring strategies.

In a recent statement, Google’s Talent Acquisition Director, Maria Rodriguez, said, “The new travel restriction complicates our ability to retain top talent who are international hires. It also raises questions about the feasibility of rotating employees between our global campuses.” Apple’s human‑resources chief, Ken Liao, echoed similar concerns, noting that the rule would “force us to either lock employees into a permanent U.S. base or risk the loss of their visa status.”

Legal and Policy Context

The executive order is not the first time the Trump administration has taken a hard line on H‑1B visas. In 2019, a rule was introduced that required H‑1B holders to apply for a new visa if they traveled outside the U.S. for more than 30 days. The rule was challenged in federal court and was ultimately suspended by the Biden administration in 2021 as part of a broader effort to “rebuild trust” in the immigration system. However, the 2025 order represents a formal re‑implementation that the Biden administration has largely ignored, citing a lack of enforcement authority.

The policy has already attracted legal scrutiny. A coalition of immigrant advocacy groups—including the National Immigration Law Center and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance—has filed a lawsuit, arguing that the order “violates the non‑discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.” The case is currently pending in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, with a decision expected in the coming months.

What Companies Are Doing

In light of the new restrictions, several big‑tech firms have begun to re‑evaluate their workforce strategies. Amazon announced that it would be offering “remote‑first” roles to H‑1B holders, allowing them to work from abroad while still being technically employed in the U.S. However, this move comes with the caveat that employees will need to maintain a U.S. work authorization, which the new rule complicates.

Meta, meanwhile, has decided to postpone the hiring of any new H‑1B applicants for the next 12 months, citing “the regulatory uncertainty and potential legal ramifications.” The company has also issued an internal memo reminding managers to track any international travel by H‑1B staff and to coordinate with immigration counsel before approving any trips.

Potential Ripple Effects

If upheld, the order could have far‑reaching implications for the tech sector. The U.S. is already grappling with a talent shortage, and many of the most skilled programmers, data scientists, and AI researchers come from outside the country. The new rule could slow the flow of talent into the U.S., pushing companies to look toward other regions—such as Europe, Canada, or Australia—for hiring.

The Biden administration has signaled that it may revisit the policy if the current legal challenges do not reach a favorable outcome. In a recent interview with Reuters, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas stated that the administration remains “open to reviewing the rule and ensuring it aligns with U.S. interests and the interests of American workers.”

Sources and Further Reading

• The full text of the 2025 executive order, available on the Federal Register website.
• The March 2024 USCIS memo on H‑1B visa travel restrictions (link in the article).
• The Ninth Circuit case docket for the National Immigration Law Center vs. the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
• The companies’ internal communications referenced in the article (Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta).

Note: For a deeper dive into how this rule may affect other visa categories and the broader immigration landscape, Business Insider has linked to its earlier coverage on the 2019 H‑1B travel rule and the 2021 executive order that paused it.