The measure, scheduled to take effect on 21 September 2025, is expected to significantly alter recruitment practices across the technology and business sectors.
“Companies need to decide: is the person valuable enough to have a $100,000-a-year payment to the government, or should they head home and go hire an American?” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said. “All of the big companies are on board.”
Key Provisions of the September 19 Proclamation
The September 19, 2025 White House proclamation, titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” has clarified the scope of the new fee. The directive only applies to H-1B workers who are outside the United States and seeking entry. Employers petitioning for such applicants must pay the $100,000 fee. Thirdly, the measure does not apply to extensions, amendments, or transfers for H-1B holders already residing in the United States.
Corporate Response
Technology firms have responded swiftly to the directives. Internal communications from Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta have urged affected employees to take immediate action. In a memo to its staff, Microsoft advised:
“If you are on H-1B status and are currently outside the U.S., we strongly recommend that you return to the U.S. tomorrow before the deadline. If you are currently on business travel, call the emergency telephone number listed on your BCD Travel itinerary immediately to book travel back to the U.S.”
Implications for African Professionals
The new H-1B directive has raised concerns across Africa’s technology sector, which has seen growing numbers of skilled workers use the programme to pursue careers in the United States.
While Indian and Chinese applicants dominate roughly 84 percent of H-1B visas, Africans from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana hold about 1 to 2 percent and face amplified barriers due to already high denial rates in U.S. visa systems.
Analysts warn that the policy could disrupt career pipelines, prompt calls for stronger African economies to retain talent, and reflect broader anti-immigrant sentiment.
A Substack analysis by diaspora journalist warned: “New H-1B rules risk cutting off Africa’s STEM pipeline. Universities risk losing STEM minds while hospitals may be spared.” According to the user, Healthcare roles might receive waivers, but education and technology fields critical for African professionals face cuts, potentially reducing remittances and skills transfer back home.
Smaller firms and startups, both in the United States and abroad, are expected to be disproportionately affected, as many cannot absorb the steep new costs despite reliance on specialised foreign talent.
However, experts suggest the measure could accelerate alternative opportunities. One analyst told Business Insider Africa that the directive may lead to “a surge in remote job opportunities for Africans, similar to the wave witnessed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when global firms turned to remote hiring to fill critical skills gaps without physical relocation.”
Additional Measures and Broader Context
The executive order further introduces a “gold card” immigration system, granting expedited residency to wealthy individuals willing to pay fees starting at £1 million. This follows earlier measures, including a June travel ban affecting 12 countries and a pilot programme requiring bonds of up to $15,000 for certain tourist and business visas.
For Africa, the policy may accelerate a redirection of skilled migration flows toward more accessible destinations such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, which are actively courting global talent.
Likewise, African technology hubs in Lagos, Nairobi, and Cape Town may stand to benefit from retaining skilled workers who might otherwise have sought opportunities in the United States.
