Get a job in 60 days or get out of US: After Twitter and Meta layoffs, H-1B visa holders plead for work
Tech companies are notoriously known for firing employees to make up for the losses, and ever since the pandemic, people are getting fired quite often. Illustration: Geetanjali Singh/dailyO
The Meta and Twitter layoffs have left so many people astonished and shocked, but what comes next for them is nothing less than a nightmare.
Of all the full-time staff who were fired, most of them were under H-1B visas and they had relocated to the US only for their jobs. These people now have 60 days to find a new job, or else they would be deported back.
Meta sacked approximately 13% of its team last week in order to "enhance productivity". Similarly, the saga of firing staff does not appear to have ended at Twitter following Elon Musk's takeover. Musk sacked another 5,500 contract staff on Monday (November 14), after previously firing off 3,700 employees.
Tech companies are notoriously known for firing employees to make up for the losses, and ever since the pandemic, people are getting fired quite often. And with no surprise, Meta has topped the list.
What is an H-1B visa? The H-1B visa is given by the United States under an act called the Immigration and Nationality Act. This visa is for a nonimmigrant work visa that allows US employers to hire foreign workers for speciality jobs.
Tech layoffs are a reminder that the US H1B system badly needs reform. Employees who helped build widely used and valued products deserve better than to scramble for a job or need to leave. Grace periods should be extended and the time to green cards should be much faster.
— Andrew Carroll (@acarroll_ATG) November 7, 2022
For an employee to get an H-1B visa, he/she/them needs to have:
- Specialised knowledge about the job,
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of work experience in the field.
This can include occupations in fields such as IT, finance, engineering, architecture or others.
What is the duration of the stay? According to US laws, an H-1B visa allows you to stay in the United States for three years. This can however be extended to six years, after which the visa holder may need to reapply.
What happens if your H-1B employer fires you? Those who were under H-1B visas and were laid off now have three pathways:
- Get another employer to sponsor you for H-1B employment within 60 days (basically, find another job).
- Arrange for another visa status allowing you to stay in the US (for instance, apply for a tourist visa to extend your stay).
- Make plans to head home.
People's reactions after they were laid off: Linkedin is now filled with job requests from H-1B visa holders and those who have been fired are talking about the anxiety that comes with this.
