America H-1B VISA: IT professionals will be able to stay in America for more than 60 days after leaving the job, just have to do this work
H-1B visa-holders only get 60 days after losing their jobs.
Fired workers in the IT sector can stay in the US even after the 60-day H-1B visa deadline to find another job. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced this.
Earlier it was believed that H-1B visa-holders get only 60 days after losing their jobs. They can then either find a new job and file an H-1B petition with another employer on their behalf, or leave the US. However, according to USCIS, they only need to transfer their H-1B visa status to category B visas, which are for tourism or business travelers.
The USCIS said the facility is actually available to anyone visiting the country on B1 (business) or B2 (tourist) status in the US. Let us tell you that the fear of Indian citizens on H-1B visa in America is expected to be overcome amid widespread layoffs in the IT sector. It is said that more than 1 lakh Indians have been affected by the layoffs. The first quarter of 2023 itself saw layoffs by tech giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Yahoo and Zoom. Several startups have also announced layoffs.
USCIS said, “Many people have asked if they can look for a new job in B-1 or B-2 status. Answer is- Yes. USCIS clarified via tweet that seeking employment and interviewing for a position are permitted B-1 or B-2 activities.
Embassies and consulates in India have processed over 2 lakh visa applications so far this year, according to data provided by the US Embassy spokesperson in New Delhi.
People planning to seek employment in the US can also use B1/B2 visas. The US recently said that it will process one lakh non-immigrant visa applications in India in 2023. Presently 1000 interviews are being conducted on a daily basis in India for B1 and B2 visas.
