Chaos erupted over the weekend as H-1B visa holders worldwide scrambled to return to the U.S. after President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sky-high visa fees—a move some called a 'midnight immigration curveball.' 🎯 Professionals, including tech workers, doctors, and bankers, canceled vacations and family visits to beat a Sunday 12:01 a.m. EDT deadline.
Corporate Panic Mode Activated 🚨
Tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon sent urgent alerts advising employees abroad to 'return immediately' and avoid international travel. Goldman Sachs reportedly chartered last-minute flights for stranded staff. One Amazon employee told us: 'It felt like a real-life #HomeAlone sequel—but with way more stress.'
White House Clarifies (Sort Of) 🕵️♂️
Confusion peaked when the White House clarified Saturday that the fees—reportedly up to $100,000—apply only to new applicants, not existing visa holders. By Monday, exemptions emerged for medical professionals, but many still faced airport chaos. Viral videos showed passengers literally sprinting through terminals to catch U.S.-bound flights. ✈️💨
Mixed Reactions: From Praise to Panic 🎭
Netflix Chair Reed Hastings praised the policy for replacing the 'H-1B lottery with merit-based certainty,' while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce warned of 'disruption to families and businesses.' On Chinese app Rednote, user @EmilysLifeInNY shared how her Paris-bound flight turned around mid-taxi so she could disembark: 'I cried in the terminal. This isn’t the American Dream I signed up for.' 😢
As debates rage over 'high-skilled labor' definitions, one thing’s clear: For global professionals, the U.S. immigration rollercoaster just got wilder. 🎢
