Amid a renewed wave of layoffs plaguing the technology sector in the United States, thousands of Indian professionals holding H-1B visas find themselves engulfed in uncertainty.
Immigration attorneys and industry analysts report that the current climate presents a formidable challenge, as the once-reliable fallback option of shifting to a B-1/B-2 visitor visa is now scrutinized more rigorously by immigration authorities.
Previously, H-1B visa holders who faced termination could leverage a 60-day grace period to secure alternative employment or change their visa status to visit while still legally seeking new opportunities.
What Happens After an H-1B Worker Loses a Job?
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stipulates that H-1B workers who experience job loss are afforded a 60-day grace period, or until the expiration of their I-94 status—whichever occurs first.
This timeframe commences not from the last paycheck received but following the employee’s final day of work. During this interim, the individual’s status remains authorized, allowing for a legal job search to continue.
This regulation was instituted to prevent highly skilled foreign workers from being expelled immediately following layoffs.
However, the reality is that securing a new sponsoring employer within a mere two months has become increasingly arduous, especially amidst a downturn in hiring trends and rampant layoffs that are permeating the tech industry.
Indian Professionals Hit Hardest by Tech Layoffs
Indians comprise the majority of H-1B visa holders in the American technology landscape, rendering them especially vulnerable to layoffs from predominant firms such as Meta and Amazon.
A report published by USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security indicates that, out of 406,348 approved H-1B visas for FY25, a staggering 283,772 were held by Indian nationals.
According to reports from the Economic Times, countless Indians are now racing against the clock to secure new employment before the expiration of their 60-day window.
Over 110,000 Tech Layoffs Reported in 2026
As reported by Layoffs. fyi, over 110,000 individuals across 144 technology companies have lost their jobs in 2026 alone.
Immigration specialists project that a substantial portion of those impacted are H-1B visa holders, with many being Indian citizens.
Concerns have intensified with Meta’s latest wave of global layoffs aimed at its AI-centered restructuring strategies.
Reports indicate that employees in Singapore received notification of layoffs starting as early as 4 AM local time on Wednesday, with further repercussions expected for workers in the United States and Europe.
Immigration Experts Outline Possible Options
Experts assert that affected professionals still have multiple pathways available to them, contingent upon their individual circumstances:
- Transfer to another H-1B employer
- Shift to a different visa category
- Apply for B-1/B-2 visitor visas
- Leave the U.S. and re-enter later
- Utilize Green Card-linked protections
Source link: Newsx.com.
