Crisis on the way for OPT, H-1B and Green card applicants

US-based anti-immigration group asks trump to suspend H-1B program because of rising unemployment rates amid corona virus outbreak. 1 out of 5 people in the US have currently been laid off and that positions visa holders as the last priority on the list of receiving employment. According to an industry source, it is estimated that about 20-30% of H-1B and H-4 visa holders may be forced to go back to their countries in the next 5-7months.

If a job contract is terminated, normally there is a grace period of 60 days to find a new job. However, with current travel-ban impositions and temporary closure of USCIS and embassies, it becomes extremely difficult to find a new job. On the other hand, recent graduates on F-1 visas are also facing a similar situation wherein their OPTs are on the verge to expire and there is very little to no scope of its renewal due to the current crisis in US job market.

If worse comes to worst and visa applications are continually denied, international job seekers from many Asian countries will have to change their status to B2 visa which is a visitor visa in US, provided that people are not allowed to find new jobs on this visa status and they will have to go back to India to again find a new employer to sponsor the H-1B.

Consequently, NASSCOM has requested an extension of additional 30 days on the H-1B grace period which will then allot international job seekers with more time to leave US following their visa expiration.

This change in current employment process is also applicable to those who have been working in the US for more than 10-15 years and have applied for a green card.

Nuclear families living in US are in a dilemma, as in most cases, the household consists of a H-1B holder, H-4 holder and a US born child. These people are worried about their job security pertaining to their children’s future and also about getting re-entry into the US, once this pandemic is under control.