US Presidential Advisory Panel Recommends Extending Grace Period for H1-B Visa Holders

In a recent recommendation made to the federal government, a presidential advisory sub-committee has suggested extending the grace period for H1-B visa holders who have lost their jobs. The current grace period of 60 days could be extended to 180 days to give workers enough time to find new employment opportunities or alternative options.

Ajay Jain Bhutoria, a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, presented the challenges faced by H1-B workers who have been laid off. These include the tight timeframe for finding new employment, complex paperwork for transferring H1-B status, and delays in processing at USCIS.

Bhutoria strongly advocated for extending the grace period, as it would provide skilled tech employees with more time to navigate the process of finding new employment opportunities and transferring their H1-B status. He argued that these employees are essential to the economic growth of the United States, and their loss could be detrimental.

The members of the advisory commission recognized the importance of supporting and retaining highly skilled tech employees and supported the move. Extending the grace period for H1-B workers is a crucial step towards ensuring that they can continue to contribute to the economic growth of the United States without fear of losing their status.

H1-B visa holders face significant consequences when they lose their jobs. They have 60 days to leave the United States, seek a change of immigration status, or have another employer file an H1-B petition on their behalf. However, finding a new job within 60 days and completing the process of transferring H1-B status can be challenging and time-consuming, especially in specialized fields.

With the extension of the grace period, H1-B workers will have more time to navigate these challenges, increasing the chances of finding new employment opportunities and transferring their H1-B status successfully. This move will ensure that the United States retains its highly skilled tech employees, contributing to the country’s economic growth in the long term.