An H-1B visa holder in the US shared a distressing experience after being laid off just a week before their visa expiration date. The company, which had initially filed for an H-1B extension, revoked the application soon after the layoff. According to the company’s lawyer, the only way to maintain lawful status was to immediately switch to a B2 (tourist) visa before the current H-1B expired. The details were shared on Reddit..
Legal Advice and Visa Transition Challenges
The employee stated, “The lawyer that the company paid for me to consult told me that I’ll have to change my status to B2 before the current H-1B expires to maintain status. Then if I found another sponsor within the grace period, I’ll need to apply to switch back to H-1B.”
They expressed uncertainty about the process, asking if changing status to B2 and then back to H-1B would be possible if a sponsor was found during the grace period.
Online Community Reactions
In response, one user advised, “First off, your ex-employer owes you a ticket back home. Second, you have 1 week left on your visa. Is that realistically enough for a new employer to transfer and recapture? I don’t think so. I’m going to guess your new employer needs to reenter you in the lottery, but I’m no lawyer.”
Another user added, “I agree with everyone else saying you should cut your losses as early as possible and go home. Be sure to demand your ticket home be paid by your ex-employer!!”
Several commenters echoed similar sentiments, citing a difficult U.S. job market. “Nobody is hiring currently. I’d save your money and move home,” one person wrote, reflecting the growing concerns among laid-off H-1B holders facing visa expiration.
Growing Anxiety Among H-1B Workers
Immigration experts say that such situations have become increasingly common, especially amid layoffs in the tech sector. Many H-1B workers struggle to find new sponsors within the 60-day grace period, forcing them to either change their visa status or return to their home country.
For this worker, the clock is ticking fast — with just a few days left to decide between changing status or leaving the U.S., the uncertainty surrounding their next steps highlights the fragile reality many foreign professionals face when employment ends abruptly.
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