On September 19, President Trump signed a proclamation requiring employers to pay $100,000 to sponsor H-1B petitions and creating new restrictions on the entry of H-1B workers into the United States. The proclamation's wording resulted in significant confusion about whether H-1B workers traveling internationally could return to the U.S. without paying the new fee. 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) each released memoranda on September 20 clarifying that the fee does not apply to current H-1B visa holders—only to new H-1B petitions filed after the proclamation went into effect on September 21 at 12:01 a.m. ET. These memos and an additional H-1B FAQ from USCIS all agree the proclamation "does not prevent any holder of a current H-1B visa from traveling in and out of the United States."

The proclamation is expected to face legal and regulatory challenges. International Services is monitoring the situation very closely and communicating directly with Cornell’s H-1B visa holders about any updates and immediate impacts. 

Stay informed by checking International Services alerts for the most up-to-date guidance. Additional useful information can be found on the Executive Orders site (NetID required). Subscribe to receive important updates and our monthly newsletter by email. (International students are automatically subscribed.)