A Trump administration proposal would require H-1B visa holders to leave the US immediately if their visa expires or employment ends, eliminating the current grace period.
The Trump administration is proposing to eliminate the H-1B grace period, which currently allows workers to remain in the US for up to 60 days after their visa expires or employment ends. Under the new rule, H-1B holders would have to leave immediately upon visa expiration or job termination.
This affects anyone on an H-1B visa, particularly those in tech, healthcare, and specialty occupations. The grace period has been a critical safety net for workers between jobs or waiting for green card processing. Eliminating it would force immediate departure, even if you have a new job lined up or are mid-green-card application.
H-1B workers may lose the grace period to stay in the US after visa expiration.
The proposal has not yet been finalized, but H-1B holders should prepare contingency plans. If you're on an H-1B, maintain your visa status meticulously—any lapse could trigger deportation. If you're changing employers, coordinate your start date carefully to avoid gaps. Consider consulting an immigration attorney to understand your options, including potential green card sponsorship or alternative visa categories. If you're planning to hire H-1B workers, expect increased compliance costs and tighter timelines.
Source: original report ↗
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