Greetings, H-1B visa holder:
On Friday, September 19, 2025, President Trump signed the Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers. The Proclamation sets out to restrict the entry of H-1B specialty occupation workers unless employers pay a $100,000 fee per petition. This proclamation took effect at 12:01 AM Sunday, September 21, 2025.
Since then, there have been clarifying statements issued by USCIS and CBP that have included the following:
The proclamation does not impact:
- H-1B workers who are the beneficiaries of currently approved petitions
- any H-1B petitions filed prior to 12:01 AM ET on September 21, 2025
- any H-1B worker in possession of a valid H-1B visa stamp
- any payments or fees required to be submitted in connection with any H-1B renewal
Despite these clarifications, we strongly advise all H-1B visa holders who are in the country to remain in the country. If you decide to travel outside the U.S., we strongly recommend that you reach out to iso@rochester.edu before finalizing plans.
There are aspects of the proclamation that are not fully understood yet, and its application may change depending on agency guidance and litigation outcomes. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as information becomes available.
Kindest regards,
Wendy Fritz