As major companies like Meta, Amazon and Oracle continue rolling out job cuts, many Indians on H-1B visas are finding themselves trapped in a tightening immigration window that allows only 60 days to secure
a new sponsor or leave the country. Under US immigration rules, H-1B visa holders who lose their jobs must either find a new employer within that short period or switch visa status or face departure from the country. For many who have built homes, families and careers in the US, the pressure is becoming increasingly severe.
‘Visa Filings Strained’
Immigration lawyers say the strain is now visible in visa filings as US-based immigration attorney Rajiv Khanna said, “We are seeing a significant spike in RFEs and Notices of Intent to Deny on B-1/B-2 change-of-status applications filed by laid-off H-1B workers.” Other experts told Economic Times that requests for additional documentation and rejection rates have also risen in recent months, making it harder for laid-off workers to legally buy time.
H-1B Holders Hit Hardest
The crisis is unfolding alongside mass layoffs across the tech sector. According to Layoffs.fyi, more than 110,000 workers have been laid off across 144 tech companies so far in 2026. Boundless Immigration CEO Xiao Wang said the impact on Indian workers has been particularly severe.
“Indian H-1B holders are taking it the hardest because their green card backlogs were already decades long; this is another door closing,” he said, adding, “We’re hearing more people say they want to go home or move to Canada or Europe than at any point in the last decade.”
Immigration attorney Kevin J Andrews told Economic Times that workers are increasingly reassessing their long-term plans in the US. Many are exploring alternative visa routes, including B-2 visitor visas, F-1 student visas, O-1 extraordinary ability visas and L-1 intra-company transfers, in an attempt to remain legally in the country.
Some are also considering relocation to Canada through programs such as Express Entry and the Global Talent Stream, which offer more stable immigration pathways for skilled workers.
Indians remain the largest recipients of H-1B visas. A 2026 US Citizenship and Immigration Services and Department of Homeland Security report showed Indians accounted for 283,772 of 406,348 approved H-1B petitions in FY25.
