For years, Indian engineers and software professionals played a central role in building some of America’s biggest technology companies. Many settled in the United States believing they had secured long-term stability for themselves and their families.
But the latest wave of layoffs across the US tech industry is once again exposing a harsh reality for thousands of Indian workers on H-1B visas: losing a job can also mean losing the right to stay in the country.
Companies across Silicon Valley have entered another phase of cost-cutting and restructuring. Meta has reportedly cut around 8,000 jobs while shifting resources towards artificial intelligence. Amazon and LinkedIn have also reduced teams in recent months as companies reorganise around AI and automation.
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The 60-day countdown begins after layoffs
For most Indian professionals working in the US on H-1B visas, employment status is directly tied to immigration status. Once laid off, workers generally get only 60 days to either find another employer willing to sponsor their visa, switch to another visa category or leave the country, per a report by NDTV.
That limited window often creates pressure far beyond job hunting.
A layoff can quickly affect mortgage payments, school admissions for children, healthcare coverage and long-term residency plans. Many Indian workers have spent years waiting for green cards due to large backlogs in the immigration system. Some have children born in the US, while others purchased homes expecting to continue living there for years.
According to reports cited by NDTV, several laid-off workers are now attempting temporary alternatives such as switching to B-1 or B-2 visitor visas to stay longer while searching for employment.
Visa uncertainty adds to emotional stress
Under US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rules, the 60-day grace period usually begins from the employee’s last working day and not from the date of the final salary payment, per NDTV.
The rule was designed to provide some relief after sudden job losses. However, workers say the timeline feels increasingly difficult as hiring slows across the tech industry.
Finding a new employer is not always quick. Interviews, visa transfer paperwork and internal approvals can take weeks, while companies themselves are becoming more cautious amid economic uncertainty and AI-led restructuring.
Recent reports cited by NDTV also suggest US immigration authorities are closely scrutinising change-of-status applications filed by laid-off workers seeking temporary visitor visas.
AI reshaping the tech job market
The layoffs are also unfolding at a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly changing hiring patterns in the tech sector.
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Companies are investing heavily in AI products, automation tools and leaner organisational structures. According to Bloomberg, Meta alone is expected to spend over $100 billion this year on AI-related investments.
That shift is increasing fears among many professionals that hiring slowdowns may not be temporary.
According to Layoffs.fyi, more than 1,10,000 tech employees have lost jobs this year. A significant number are believed to be foreign workers, particularly Indians, who remain the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B visa programme.
For many Indian professionals, the uncertainty is no longer only about salaries or career growth. The larger concern is the instability that comes with visa dependence, where one layoff can disrupt an entire family’s future within weeks.
