🚨 “Rush Back or Risk Being Stuck! H-1B Visa Holders Panic as US Deadline Hits”

TL;DRThe US has announced a sudden rule making employers pay an extra $100,000 fee for some H-1B visa workers abroad, starting September 21, 2025. Immigration attorneys are warning workers to return before the cut-off or risk being stranded outside America. Many in India may already miss the deadline due to flight timings.

The Full Story ✈️💼

Imagine being on a short vacation in Hyderabad 🌆 or visiting family in Vijayawada 🏡… and suddenly getting an urgent call from your company saying, “Fly back to the US immediately or you might not be able to return at all.” That’s exactly what is happening to thousands of #H1B visa holders right now.

From September 21, 2025, 12:01 a.m. US time, a new proclamation by President Donald Trump makes it compulsory for companies to pay an extra $100,000 fee for sponsoring some H-1B petitions. This rule especially hits people who are currently outside the US. If they don’t re-enter before the deadline, their reentry might be blocked or delayed unless the company pays this giant fee.

👨‍💻 Most affected are Indian techies, healthcare workers, and engineers — the backbone of America’s skilled immigrant labour force. For them, the rule feels like a sudden wall built right in front of their dreams.

Why This Is Serious 🚨

• Flights from India to the US take more than 15 hours, meaning many may not even reach before the deadline.

• Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta have told workers to either stay put in the US or rush back quickly.

• Immigration attorneys say this could leave people stranded abroad — stuck away from their jobs, salaries, and even families.

• Dependents on H-4 visas (spouses, kids) are not clearly mentioned in the rule, but companies are being extra cautious.

Who Gets Hit Hardest 🥺

• Indians are the largest group on H-1B visas, making up over 70% of all holders.

• Workers currently in India for weddings, family events, or medical needs are in deep trouble. Many simply can’t catch a flight that lands before the deadline.

• Companies now face higher costs, project delays, and even losing skilled staff if the rule sticks.

What’s Still Confusing 🤔

• Will this $100,000 fee apply to renewals or only to new petitions?

• Can companies get waivers if the job is in “national interest”? The rule says maybe, but the criteria are super vague.

• What happens to workers stuck abroad after the deadline? Will they have to wait months for approvals?

Advice Flooding In 📢

• If you’re outside the US on H-1B — return before the deadline if at all possible.

• If you’re inside the US — avoid travelling out for now.

• Consult an immigration lawyer to know your exact risk.

• Keep an eye on further announcements — legal challenges could delay or soften the rule.

MediaFx People’s Take 💬

From the point of view of ordinary workers, this feels like yet another blow. The US economy thrives on skilled immigrants — especially Indians — who do hard work in IT, healthcare, research and education. Suddenly forcing them to scramble for flights or risk losing their livelihood is unjust.

That $100,000 fee is not just a company cost — it’s a barrier that could reduce jobs for working families and increase inequality. It is ordinary people, not billion-dollar tech companies, who will suffer the most.

Policies should support workers and their families, not trap them between borders. ✊

#H1BVisa #USImmigration #TechiesAbroad #IndianWorkers #VisaCrisis