06:36 AM EDT, 09/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with Microsoft's ( MSFT ) response in the fourth paragraph.)

Microsoft ( MSFT ) , Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Amazon.com ( AMZN ) , and Goldman Sachs ( GS ) were among the tech companies and banks that sent letters to employees urging them to stay home or quickly return to the US after the White House on Friday announced new rules on H-1B visas, Reuters reported Sunday.

The White House later clarified on Saturday that the new rules applied only to new applications, easing the panic, Reuters reported.

IBM ( IBM ) and Netflix ( NFLX ) officials praised the new system for eliminating the lottery system and providing certainty for applicants, according to the report.

Microsoft ( MSFT ) declined to comment. The other companies did not reply to MT Newswires' request for comment.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)