H-1B visa issue: Trump administration proposes scrapping 60-day grace period, Indian techies to be affected
Under the proposed rule, H-1B and holders of certain other temporary work visas would have to leave the United States as soon as their employment ends. The move is expected to disrupt major US technology companies.
The Trump administration has proposed eliminating the 60-day grace period for H-1B visa holders in the United States. If the rule is passed, foreign workers, including skilled workers from India, will be required to leave the country immediately after their employment is terminated, rather than being granted a two-month window to find a new sponsor or return home.
This proposal, published in the Federal Register by the US Department of Homeland Security, could significantly impact major US technology companies that heavily rely on foreign workers. Under the current system, H-1B visa holders typically have 60 days to secure another job or leave the country after losing their job. The proposed rule would eliminate this buffer, forcing laid-off workers to immediately return to their home countries.
DHS acknowledges that this change could affect several companies, but argues that US workers could potentially fill the affected positions. The 60-day grace period was introduced in 2017 and is crucial for companies like Deloitte, PwC, and Tata Consultancy Services, which hire foreign workers for specialized roles. The proposal is currently open for public comment before being finalized by the administration.
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