Massive US Layoffs: Indian H-1Bs Suffering a Lot?
Significant layoffs have recently occurred in the US IT sector, impacting a large number of employees, especially those with H-1B visas who are indian in origin. This predicament has made life challenging for foreign students and skilled professionals in the United States, especially in light of recent changes to visa laws. Approximately 438 IT businesses have let go of roughly 137,500 people in an industry that was previously thought to be solid.
Consequently, there are now fewer employment openings. Those on H-1B visas have a limited amount of time to locate new employment, and if they don't find something promptly, they may be forced to leave the country. indian laborers reportedly have to wait for decades to receive green cards, which makes their predicament much more difficult.
The status of several visa applications, including the EB-5 investor visa, is described in the most current update to the U.S. Department of State's visa bulletin for the 2025 fiscal year. By investing in particular initiatives, one might gain residence with this visa; nevertheless, indian applicants frequently experience delays.
Furthermore, there have been notable hikes in visa costs. The application price for paper files climbed from $460 to $780, a 70% increase, while the cost of H-1B visas increased from $10 to $215, a 2150% increase. Applicants for green cards are also impacted by these fee increases, which result in increased expenses for petition and asylum filings. There is some positive news even if the new regulations have presented difficulties. To alleviate the difficulty of work permit renewals, the validity term for Employment Authorization Documents has been extended to five years for qualified persons.
With certain loosened employer criteria, students can still take advantage of training programs, such as the 24-month STEM OPT extension.