Trump Admin Mulls Axing H-1B Visa Grace Period, Threatening Thousands of Indian Tech Workers
The US government is considering a significant change to its immigration policies, which could impact thousands of Indian technology professionals working in the country on H-1B visas.
Currently, foreign workers who lose their jobs are given a 60-day grace period to find another employer willing to sponsor them or prepare to leave the US. This period has been in place since 2017 and allows workers to manage practical matters such as housing and children's schooling.
The proposed change would require H-1B visa holders, along with some other temporary work visa holders, to leave the US soon after their employment ends without this grace period. The Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that companies could face disruption if the proposal is implemented, but stated that affected positions could be offered to American workers instead.
Indian IT companies such as Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, HCLTech, and LTIMindtree are among the major H-1B sponsors. The proposed change would leave Indian professionals with much less time to find a new employer after being laid off, potentially affecting their livelihoods in the US.