UConn-AAUP Update Regarding H1-B visas
As you may have heard, yesterday Donald Trump issued a presidential proclamation concerning international workers with H-1B visa status that is taking effect tonight at midnight. UConn Labor Relations sent out the below communication earlier today.
If you are a UConn-AAUP member with H-1B visa status who is currently traveling, or if you have plans to travel, please follow the instructions below. Please also copy David Amdur at davidamdur@uconnaaup.org so that the union can support you through the process of navigating next steps.
UConn Message to the Community
Dear Colleagues,
On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation restricting the entry of anyone seeking to enter or reenter the U.S. in H-1B status without payment of a new $100,000 fee. The proclamation, titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Sunday, September 21, 2025, and is set to expire after one year.
While we wait for details regarding implementation, below are key points and considerations:
The proclamation targets entry of H-1B workers into the U.S. who are currently outside the U.S.
The restriction on entry applies only to H-1B workers who attempt to enter the U.S. after the effective date. It does not appear to impact H-1B workers already in the U.S. but leaving and reentering during the effective period may trigger the restriction.
USCIS will not adjudicate petitions unless they are accompanied by proof of payment of the $100,000 fee for H-1B workers who are currently outside the U.S.
Exceptions:
Extensions of stay inside the U.S., including change of employer, change of status, and amended petitions—where the beneficiary remains in lawful H-1B status—are not expressly covered, so unless instructed otherwise, it appears they are exempt.
There may be exceptions for an individual, a company, or an industry if DHS determines that it is in the national interest of the U.S. and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the U.S.
The language of the proclamation does not address whether this new fee and travel restriction apply to cap-exempt H-1B workers outside of the U.S. All H-1Bs holders at UConn are cap-exempt.
Action Required:
If you are currently outside the U.S., make immediate arrangements to return before the deadline. If you are unable to return by the deadline, please reach out to me and Alison Cutler in Labor Relations (christene.cooper@uconn.edu, alison.cutler@uconn.edu).
All planned international travel for H-1B visa holders should be canceled immediately.
Litigation is expected, but do not assume delays or exemptions—treat this as fully effective. We will continue to monitor this situation and share updates as they become available.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.