Retrenched Indian techies in a fix over US visa

Nearly 200,000 IT workers have been laid off since November 2022, including some record numbers in companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon

Washington: Thousands of Indian IT professionals in the US, who have lost their jobs due to the series of recent layoffs at companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon, are now struggling to find new employment within the stipulated period under their work visas following the termination of their employment to stay in the country.

According to a report in The Washington Post, nearly 200,000 IT workers have been laid off since November 2022, including some record numbers in companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon. As per some industry insiders, between 30 to 40 per cent of them are Indian IT professionals, a significant number of whom are on H-1B and L1 visas. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. L-1A and L-1B visas are available for temporary intracompany transferees who work in managerial positions or have specialised knowledge.

A significantly large number of Indian IT professionals, who are on non-immigrant work visas like H-1B are L1, are now scrambling for options to stay in the US to find a new job in the stipulated few months time that they get under these foreign work visas after losing their jobs and change their visa status as well. Amazon staffer Gita (name changed) arrived in the US only three months ago. This week she was told that March 20 is her last working day. The situation is getting worse for those on H-1B visas as they have to find a new job within 60 days or else, they would be left with no other option but to head back to India. Under current circumstances, when all IT companies are on a firing spree, getting a job within that short period, they feel is next to impossible. Sita (name changed), another IT professional on an H-1B visa, got laid off from Microsoft on January 18.

She is a single mother. Her son is in High School Junior year, preparing for getting into college. "This situation is really hard on us," she said. "It is unfortunate that thousands of tech employees are facing layoffs, particularly those on H-1B visas who are facing additional challenges as they must find a new job and transfer their visa within 60 days of termination or risk leaving the country," Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur and community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria said. "This can have devastating consequences for families, including the sale of properties and disruptions to children's education. It would be beneficial for tech companies to show special consideration for H-1B workers and extend their termination date by a few months, as the job market and recruitment process can be challenging," he said.