On Friday, Sept. 19, President Trump issued a proclamation that temporarily restricts the entry of H-1B workers currently outside the U.S. unless the sponsoring employer pays a $100,000 supplemental government fee per individual or the individual receives a national interest waiver. 

This guidance will go into effect Sept. 21, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. and is scheduled to remain in place for 12 months.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published policy memoranda regarding the Sept. 19 proclamation.

USCIS and CBP have clarified that this proclamation will only apply to H-1B petitions that have not yet been filed. The proclamation does not apply to beneficiaries of petitions filed prior to the effective date of the proclamation (Sept. 21, 2025), beneficiaries of currently approved petitions or beneficiaries who are in possession of a valid H-1B visa.  

H-1Bs currently abroad 

If you have a valid H-1B visa, you should be able to return to the United States on your previously planned travel dates. It is recommended that you travel with a copy of the USCIS policy memo in case you encounter issues upon re-entry.  

If you do not have a valid H-1B visa for your return to the U.S., please contact International Student and Scholar Services. We can provide guidance on next steps.  

H-1Bs currently in the U.S. 

We advise that you do not travel internationally until further guidance is issued by the U.S. government.  

Information for departments and supervisors 

International Student and Scholar Services will continue to liaise with immigration attorneys to monitor this fluid environment. We are actively working with the Office of General Counsel to determine next steps for H-1B cases that are currently pending with our office. 

Additional information will be posted on our Insights page as updates become available.