The White House issued a major clarification on Saturday to its new H-1B visa policy that had rattled the tech industry a day earlier, saying a US$100,000 fee will be a “one-time” payment imposed only on new applicants.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had repeatedly said on Friday that the fee would be applied annually, but a White House official said Saturday it is “a one-time fee that applies only to the petition”.

“It ONLY applies to new visas, not renewals or current visa holders,” the official said on condition of anonymity, after the text of the executive order left many current visa holders confused about whether it applied to them.

The executive order, which is likely to face legal challenges, comes into force on Sunday at 12:01am.

Before the White House’s clarification, US companies were scrambling to figure out the implications for their foreign workers, with several reportedly warning their employees not to leave the country.

Some people who were already on planes preparing to leave the country on Friday deboarded over fears they may not be allowed to re-enter the country, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.