H-1B workers' 60-day grace period may end: What happens next
The US Department of Homeland Security is considering a proposal to end the 60-day grace period for H-1B visa holders who lose their jobs. If implemented, this change would force foreign workers to leave the country immediately upon termination unless they secure new sponsorship or change status.
Why it matters
This policy shift could significantly impact thousands of foreign professionals, particularly in the tech sector, and alter the stability of the US skilled-worker immigration system.
For nearly nine years, foreign workers in the US who lost their jobs have had a 60-day window to find a new employer or change their immigration status. Now, that protection may be removed. According to a Bloomberg Law report, a proposal from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end the 60-day grace period has cleared a key White House review, moving it closer to becoming public. If approved, the proposal could have a major impact on H-1B visa holders, including thousands of Indian professionals, who are among the biggest users of the visa programme. However, the rule has not taken effect yet, and its final details are still not public.What is the 60-day grace period for H-1B workersThe grace period was introduced in 2017.
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