Thousands of layoffs at Oracle have sparked concerns for H-1B visa holders in the United States. The company announced it will fire 491 workers as of June 1, with the scale of cuts potentially running into tens of thousands globally.
H-1B workers have a 60-day grace period to take action and stay in the US legally. Options include transferring H-1B to a new employer, changing visa status, changing work visa to a non-work visa, pursuing green card pathways, or leaving the US and re-entering later.
Transferring H-1B to a new employer allows workers to start work immediately, while changing visa status may provide alternative employment opportunities. Changing work visa to a non-work visa can provide short-term stability, but is not intended for extended stays.
Pursuing green card pathways may be an option for workers with an approved immigrant petition, while leaving the US and re-entering later may be a viable choice in certain situations.
