Now Reading: US may scrap 60-day grace period for H-1B workers after layoffs
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US may scrap 60-day grace period for H-1B workers after layoffs
The Trump administration has proposed eliminating the 60-day grace period that lets H-1B and other non-immigrant workers stay in the US after losing their jobs, a Department of Homeland Security regulation sent…
The Story in Brief
The Trump administration has proposed eliminating the 60-day grace period that lets H-1B and other non-immigrant workers stay in the US after losing their jobs, a Department of Homeland Security regulation sent to the White House for review on Thursday. The proposal, numbered RIN 1615-AD22, is not yet law and would first be published in the Federal Register for a 30- to 60-day public comment period before any final rule.
Currently, H-1B workers whose employment ends have up to 60 consecutive days, or until their authorised stay expires, to find a new sponsor, change status or prepare to leave. USCIS data shows 71 per cent of H-1B beneficiaries in fiscal 2024 were born in India. The rule also covers E-1, E-2, E-3, L-1, O-1 and TN visa holders. Critics say removing the cushion would give employers greater leverage over foreign workers and disrupt families who have lived in the US for years.
The Indian Opinion
Immigration restrictionists argue the H-1B is a temporary programme that should not give workers a safety net after the job ends. But that view ignores the reality that many visa holders have bought homes, sent children to school and paid US taxes for years. Corporate America, which demands the programme, has been silent on worker security. The contradiction is plain: employers want skilled labour on demand but oppose giving those workers the same job-search protection that American workers expect. Watch for the Federal Register publication to see whether the administration includes any exceptions for long-term residents.
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
