Massive layoffs in the technology sector in America have resulted in Indian professionals to be jobless, two Indian- American organizations have launched an online petition to extend the grace period.
The period extension up to a year means that once fired from a job, a foreign tech worker on H-1B visas would have one year of time period to find a new job instead of the existing duration of 60 days. Accordingly, if not able to find a new job in the time frame, they would have to leave the country. The tech sector for America is dependent on the employees as they hire thousands of employees each year from different countries, especially from India and China.
Around 91,000 were laid off just in January 2023 and this number may grow in the coming months. This has a huge impact on the employees as well as their families, especially on the H-1B holders who would need to leave the US immediately within 10 days beyond the H-1B grace period, says the petition.
In addition to the impact on them and their families, this is also a long-term impact on the talent that the US has. For example, 70 percent of startup founders are immigrants. About 50 CEOs of public companies are of Indian origin. Hence, the maximum of this talent from the US is harmful for the long-term interests of the United States, especially in the modern age of Artificial Intelligence competition, it said.
“On behalf of immigrants (from the world, mainly from India and China) as well as naturalized citizens like Indian-Americans, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies and Global Technology Professionals Association (GITPRO) has submitted an appeal to the President of the United States, the Secretary of DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and the director of USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) to extend the current grace period from 60 days to 1 year (minimum 6 months),” states the online petition. The petition is yet to be accepted by The President of the USA, Joe Biden.
Read the complete news: https://visadone.com/news/online-petition-launched-to-extend-grace-period-for-h-1b-visa-holders/
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