The recent surge of job cuts, in the tech industry has sparked worries among employees working for firms such as Twitter and Meta who hold H‐ visas. These visas are given to individuals in specialized fields and are often sought after by tech corporations to bring in global expertise. When a worker, with an H‐ visa loses their job they encounter hurdles concerning their ability to remain in the United States.
Under U.S. immigration law, workers on an H-1B visa who are laid off must find a solution within 60 days. They can:
- Look for an open employer, to support their visa application.
- Modify their visa status to a kind of visa, like a tourist or student visa.
- Leave the U.S. and return to their home country.
At Twitter, nearly 8% of the workforce, or approximately 670 employees, are on H-1B visas. The situation is similarly challenging at other tech companies experiencing layoffs, including Meta, where CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged the difficulty these layoffs present for employees on work visas. Zuckerberg emphasized that Meta has immigration specialists available to help affected employees navigate their options, including offering guidance on their immigration status and providing resources to help workers make the necessary adjustments.
The 60-day grace period gives affected employees a limited amount of time to secure new employment or make other arrangements, but the uncertainty around their future in the U.S. can be a major source of stress. For tech professionals on H-1B visas, the landscape is particularly difficult as the job market tightens, making it harder to find a new sponsor within a short timeframe.
