JPMorgan is actively engaging with policymakers and stakeholders following the US government's significant increase in H-1B visa fees, a move that has caused considerable discussion among businesses. United States President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on September 19 titled ‘Restriction on entry of certain non-immigrant workers’, which elevated the H-1B visa fee to a substantial $100,000 for all new applications.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, emphasized the importance of visas for the company's global operations, stating, “For us, visas matter because we move people around globally, because we move people around globally — experts who get promoted to new jobs in different markets.” Dimon also mentioned in a separate interview that Trump's announcement “caught everyone off guard.”

Amid widespread confusion regarding the scope and specifics of the new rule, the White House provided clarification on September 20. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed via social media that the hiked $100,000 fee (approximately ₹90 lakh) is not an annual charge but a one-time fee applicable only to new petitions. It does not apply to existing holders of valid visas re-entering the country.

The H-1B program annually grants 65,000 visas to employers for temporary foreign workers in specialized fields, with an additional 20,000 visas allocated for workers holding advanced degrees. Typically, employers are responsible for paying almost all visa-related fees. These H-1B visas are generally granted for a duration of three to six years.

The exorbitant fee hike prompted immediate concern among US companies, particularly major tech firms. Microsoft, for instance, advised H-1B and H-4 visa holders who were outside the US to return before a September 21 deadline. JPMorgan, on its part, instructed H-1B visa holders to refrain from international travel until further guidance could be provided. An internal memo from Goldman Sachs also urged employees with such visas to exercise caution regarding international travel.