H-1B Workers May Lose 60-Day Lifeline Under New US Immigration Plan: What It Means For Indians?

Published 8 August 2026 · india

News world H-1B Workers May Lose 60-Day Lifeline Under New US Immigration Plan: What It Means For Indians? H-1B Workers May Lose 60-Day Lifeline Under

News world H-1B Workers May Lose 60-Day Lifeline Under New US Immigration Plan: What It Means For Indians? H-1B Workers May Lose 60-Day Lifeline Under New US Immigration Plan: What It Means For Indians? Published By, Last Updated: August 08, 2026, 23:16 IST The US is considering ending the 60-day grace period for foreign workers who lose their jobs, a move that could affect H-1B workers and their dependants. Rapid Read H-1B workers could be put on the clock as DHS weighs ending 60-day grace period. The United States is considering ending a provision that currently allows certain foreign workers up to 60 days to find new employment after losing their jobs. The proposal is currently under review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Details of the proposed changes are not publicly available in full, and the measure has not yet been finalised as a rule. If implemented, the move could require affected workers and their dependants to leave the US immediately after the employment on which their immigration status is based ends.

What Could Change For H-1B Workers? Under the proposed regulation, the existing 60-day grace period for certain workers and their dependants could be removed when the employment on which their immigration status is based ends before their authorised period of stay expires. The change could have particular significance for the Indian expat community in the US, given the large number of Indian nationals who benefit from the H-1B skilled-worker programme. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), beneficiaries born in India accounted for 71 per cent of approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2024. More than 5.2 million people of Indian origin live in the US, according to recent estimates based on US Census data. What It Means For Indians For Indian professionals, the biggest concern could be the pressure created by sudden job loss. If the proposed change takes effect, that transition could become far more difficult because workers may no longer have the same period to search for employment or arrange their next immigration step.

A recent report on the proposal said affected workers could be required to leave the US immediately after employment ends and could generally be unable to change employers or immigration status from inside the country unless USCIS grants an exception. The issue could also put families under additional pressure, particularly when an H-1B worker is supporting dependants in the US. For Indian professionals who have built their careers and lives in the country, losing that employment-based status could therefore mean having to make immigration, employment and family decisions much faster than before. What Is The Current 60-Day Rule? The provision took effect in 2017, giving highly skilled foreign workers greater flexibility if they lose their jobs. Under the current rules, certain non-immigrant workers whose employment ends can remain in the US for up to 60 consecutive days, or until the end of their authorised period of stay, whichever comes first. Which Visa Categories Are Covered?