It is difficult to lose a job, but for H1B visa holders, there’s a countdown attached–only 60 days to secure a new employer or depart the US. With no time to lose, many opt for social media to seek assistance, hoping to get job tips, referrals, and advice from people who’ve faced the same predicament.
One such thread has gained attention–an H1B worker who has laid off in a mass reorganization, now frantically looking for another sponsor before the clock ticks out. Over 50 coworkers lost their positions, but this one was the sole employee on an H1Bimpacted. The employer submitted paperwork for unemployment benefits, but that will not give them more time. The actual probem is getting a job quickly.
The post poses pressing questions: Does the employer inform USCIS immediately? Can the H1B be kept alive until a transfer is arranged? Is self-petitioning for an EB-2 an option?
Most in the comments volunteer their experiences–some were able to change jobs in time, while others did so and then re-entered later. The answers underscore a bitter truth: handling a layoff on an H1B involves swift action and a dash of luck.
Social media is an lifeline at such times. Referrals by strangers, recommendations by immigration advisors, and lead generation from hiring managers can transform the picture in an instant. While regular searches on Linkedin or a timely sequence of tweets has the ability to link someone up with the intended opportunity in short order.
But aside from job searching, these entries represent a broader problem. H1B employees make substantial contributions to their employers, yet during times of layoffs, they have few choices. The system lacks flexibility, and before one knows it, years of work in the United States can be abruptly over.
Ultimately, social media might not fix it all, but it gives hope, connections, and a fighting chance–something that every laid-off H1B worker so desperately needs.
Source – https://www.m9.news/usa-news/h1b-layoff-navigating-the-clock-to-stay-in-the-us/