A proposed change could eliminate the 60-day grace period that lets H-1B workers stay and look for a new job after their visa sponsorship ends.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is considering a rule that would eliminate the grace period currently granted to H-1B visa holders after their employment ends. Right now, if your H-1B sponsorship terminates, you get 60 days to find a new employer, change status, or leave the country without being out of status.
If this rule passes, you would be required to leave immediately or face deportation proceedings. This affects anyone on an H-1B visa whose employer ends their sponsorship—whether due to layoff, contract end, or voluntary departure. The change would also apply to dependent family members on H-4 visas.
The grace period has been a lifeline for workers between jobs; losing it would compress your timeline dramatically.
If you're on an H-1B, monitor USCIS announcements closely. The grace period has been a lifeline for workers between jobs; losing it would compress your timeline dramatically. Start exploring backup options now: other visa categories, employer transfers, or return plans. Immigration attorneys report this could reshape H-1B strategy entirely.
Source: original report ↗
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