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Microsoft has urged its employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to return immediately

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Re: Microsoft has urged its employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to return immediately

#231

Post by matsemann »

Havoc wrote: post #134

This has very strong "cruelty is the point" vibes. There are a fair bit of international flights in the 10-12 hour range. Add some time to pack, get to airport, baggage check, get through security & how the flight times line up and this seems calculated in a way that is precisely not doable. Never mind people not perpetually online and only seeing this a couple hours later Meanwhile there is to my knowledge no reason…

Why does it even need a time limit? Having the rules apply retroactively for existing holders is plain cruel.

Re: Microsoft has urged its employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to return immediately

#232

Post by stogot »

rayiner wrote: post #187
dira3 wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Democracy isn't supposed to be two wolves and a sheep voting on who to eat for dinner. There are supposed to be checks and balances. One reason we are in the current situation is because we have discarded these checks and balances, allowing for the president to behave more like an autocratic monarch. If the other branches of government were performing their constitutional function, and if the executive observed the n…

No, democracy is supposed to be two wolves and a sheep voting on who to eat for dinner. What you’re talking about are the anti-democratic measures the founders put in place because they didn’t trust democracy. Look, it’s hardly settled that “democracy” is a good thing. The founders didn’t think it was—they restricted the franchise to property owners, and provided for indirect election of the president and appointment…

Which is also why it is a Republic and not a democracy. I wonder why people continue to call it a democracy even when they know that it isn’t. I guess it is just a sticky name

Re: Microsoft has urged its employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to return immediately

#233

Post by ponector »

ffsm8 wrote: post #191

I'm not American, but with how many software engineers having gotten laid off over the last 4 years, reducing foreign workers competing for the same positions should be a given from the perspective of governing a nation. I'm surprised how divisive such a decision seems to be considering our current reality of a contracting industry (employment wise)

Why do you think they would not close the position in USA if immigrants are not an option anymore?

If Indian developer cannot obtain a visa in Microsoft they will simply recruit the same person to the office in India.

Re: Microsoft has urged its employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to return immediately

#234

Post by lotsofpulp »

0xdde wrote: post #228
rayiner wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re using the term “democracy” in an Orwellian way. The people voted for the guy who promised mass deportations. There were signs and everything. Multiple surveys have found that, if everyone had voted, he would have won by an even larger margin. https://www.npr.org/2025/06/26/nx-s1-5447450/trump-2024-elec... A non-functioning democracy would be if the people voted this way and mass deportations didn’t happen. Lik…

You're using "Orwellian" in an Orwellian way. What do mass deportations have to do with this bizarre sudden policy change that leaves people scrambling with a 15 hour window? You're claiming this is exactly what people had in mind when they voted?

Anyone who had paid attention to Trump’s track record should have expected chaos. Along with the ability to pay Trump to be spared from the chaos. Temporarily, at least.

Re: Microsoft has urged its employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to return immediately

#235

Post by ericmay »

hshdhdhj4444 wrote: post #158
ericmay wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft can also just pay the fee right? My understanding is that it’s on the employer to pay, not the individual. Given that these are incredibly skilled folks this would certainly be annoying if you’re Microsoft (like any other tax or fee) but given the value they get from each employee it seems like $100,000 isn’t much.

Ok. How does Microsoft pay the fee? Which online portal do they go to? What bank account do they wire a check to over the weekend? What reason do they give for the payment? What USCIS code do they enter? What USCIS forms do they fill that USCIS will then snail mail (because they’re still living in the 90s) an I-797A to the employee that they will present at the border for evidence of payment. What address will USCIS…

Maybe Satya can call Donald Trump? I am sure he has his phone number. They can sort it

Re: Microsoft has urged its employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to return immediately

#237

Post by acqbu »

President Donald Trump’s new $100,000 fee for high-skill visa holders only applies to new applicants — not current visa holders who may be on travel outside of the U.S. — according to a U.S. official granted anonymity to speak about the policy. Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/20/donald-trump-h1b-vi...

Re: Microsoft has urged its employees on H-1B and H-4 visas to return immediately

#239

Post by dang »

Related ongoing threads:

US Gov acknowledges that 100K fee does not apply to existing H-1B visas holders [pdf] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45318060 - Sept 2025 (43 comments)

Microsoft memo advises H1B employees to return immediately if currently abroad - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45314906 - Sept 2025 (108 comments)

New H-1B visa fee will not apply to existing holders, official says - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45316226 - Sept 2025 (3 comments)

Also recent and related:

Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45305845 - Sept 2025 (1675 comments)

The H-1B Visa Program and Its Impact on the U.S. Economy - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45309740 - Sept 2025 (51 comments)

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