Laid-off H-1B workers are facing a tighter immigration deadline as tech layoffs at Meta, Amazon and Oracle add pressure on Indian professionals living in the United States.
For visa-dependent employees, job loss can quickly become a legal, financial and family crisis because the H-1B grace period is limited.
Why Laid-Off H-1B Workers Face a 60-Day Deadline
US immigration rules generally give H-1B workers up to 60 consecutive days after employment ends, or until their authorized stay expires, whichever is shorter. During that period, workers must find a new sponsoring employer, file for another valid status or prepare to leave the United States.
For many Indian tech workers, the deadline affects more than a paycheck. It can disrupt housing, children’s schooling, green card plans and long-term family stability.
B-2 Change of Status Is No Longer a Simple Backup
Some workers are filing for B-2 visitor status to remain in the United States temporarily while they search for options. The route is legal, but immigration attorneys say B-1/B-2 change-of-status requests from laid-off H-1B workers are facing closer scrutiny, including more requests for evidence, notices of intent to deny and denials.
That makes the B-2 route a short-term risk, not a guaranteed extension. Workers also cannot use visitor status as a way to work in the United States.
Affected workers are also exploring F-1 student visas, O-1 visas for people with extraordinary ability, L-1 company transfers and Canada pathways such as Express Entry and the Global Talent Stream.
Meta AI Restructuring Adds Fresh Concern
The anxiety has grown after Meta began notifying employees of global layoffs linked to its AI restructuring. Reports said Singapore employees received emails around 4:00 AM local time on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, while workers in Europe and the United States were also expected to be affected.
Meta has also moved about 7,000 employees into AI-focused initiatives as CEO Mark Zuckerberg pushes artificial intelligence to the center of the company’s future plans. For Indian H-1B workers, the shift highlights a larger problem: tech hiring is changing faster than immigration timelines, leaving many families with little room for delay.
