Laid-off H-1B worker faces visa uncertainty as 100 job applications yield just one interview: ‘Life cannot be worse’

A former employee who lost their job last week, in a Reddit post titled 'laid off on H1B,' expressed their despair, stating that "Life cannot be worse." The individual requested to stay on the company's payroll to maintain their H-1B status while searching for alternative employment, but the company declined due to legal concerns. This could potentially jeopardize the Reddit user's immigration status. They did receive a severance package.

The worker may be eligible for a 60-day grace period, or until their authorized validity period expires, whichever comes first. The user, who had been in the US for eight years, received no prior notice of the layoff. Despite applying for 100 jobs and garnering personal referrals, employment opportunities have been scarce, with just one interview resulting from the extensive job search. The post highlighted the challenges faced in the current job market, with the user expressing deep desperation.

The Reddit community responded with harsh comments, assuming the user is Indian. Some suggested they return home, while others advised applying for one-year extensions indefinitely. Recent data from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report revealed that major tech firms like Cognizant, Infosys, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) experienced significant drops in H-1B registrations for the FY2027 lottery.

Cognizant saw a 100% drop, Infosys a 91% decline, and TCS a 95% decrease. These statistics underscore the impact of tightened immigration rules introduced by the Trump administration, which introduced a $100,000 charge for specific H-1B applications and implemented a wage-based selection process for the 2027 fiscal year.