Today, there has been a significant development related to H1-B visas in the United States. The grace period for skilled workers on H1-B visas who have lost their jobs has been extended from 60 to 180 days. This decision was made at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders meeting. The announcement of this decision by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expected in about three months.
This extension of the grace period is a relief for over 100,000 workers on H1-B visas who have been affected by layoffs in the US. The recommendation for this extension was voted on today and will soon be implemented by the administrative body.
Previously, a presidential advisory sub-committee had recommended that the federal government extend the grace period for H1-B workers who have lost their jobs from the existing 60 days to 180 days. This extension will give workers enough time to find a new job or explore other alternatives. In addition, there was another recommendation for granting Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) and travel documents to all approved I-140 applicants after five years which was not accepted. However, the latest announcement regarding the grace period is being widely welcomed, especially during the period of layoffs and job losses.
