For years, Indian engineers and software developers helped build some of America’s biggest technology companies. They wrote code, led teams, bought homes, raised families, and settled into what many believed was a stable life in the US.
Now, for thousands of them, one layoff email is turning that stability upside down.
The latest wave of job cuts across the US tech industry is not just about losing employment. For many Indian professionals, it has revived a much deeper fear: losing the legal right to stay in America.
Several Silicon Valley companies have once again entered cost-cutting mode. Meta has reportedly cut thousands of jobs while shifting resources aggressively toward artificial intelligence.
Amazon continues to trim teams after multiple rounds of layoffs, and LinkedIn has also reduced roles as the industry restructures around AI and automation.
For Indian workers, these layoffs are not just corporate numbers. The consequences are personal, immediate, and often frightening.
60-Day Clock Starts After Job Loss
Most Indian tech professionals in the US work on H-1B visas, which are tied directly to their employers. Once they lose their jobs, they usually get only 60 days to find another employer willing to sponsor their visa. Otherwise, they are expected to leave the country.
That turns a layoff into a race against time.
It is not just about finding another job. It involves immigration paperwork, mortgage payments, children’s schooling, healthcare, and family decisions. Many Indian workers have spent years waiting for green cards due to massive backlogs. Some have children born in the US, while others have bought homes assuming they would live there long-term.
A sudden job loss can throw all these plans into uncertainty almost overnight.
According to reports, some laid-off Indian workers are now exploring temporary options to extend their stay. One common route is switching to a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa, which may allow them to remain in the US for a few more months while looking for another employer.
Under USCIS rules, laid-off H-1B workers usually get a 60-day grace period, or until their I-94 status expires, whichever comes first. During this period, they can find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa category, or prepare to leave the country.
Importantly, the 60-day period generally begins from the employee’s last working day, not from the date of final salary payment.
Backup Plans Also Under Pressure
In the past, immigration lawyers often advised laid-off workers to file Form I-539 and temporarily change status to B-1 or B-2. USCIS guidance had indicated that people on visitor status could attend interviews and search for jobs, as long as they did not work without authorization.
That option still exists legally. However, recent reports suggest that US authorities are scrutinizing such applications more closely. Immigration lawyers have pointed to more requests for documents and tougher questioning in change-of-status cases.
This has increased anxiety among workers who fear that even their backup plans may not give them enough breathing room.
The scale of layoffs has made the situation worse. According to Layoffs.fyi, more than 110,000 tech employees have lost jobs this year. A significant number are believed to be foreign workers, especially Indians, who form the largest group of H-1B beneficiaries.
American Dream Under Stress
For decades, the US represented career growth, better salaries, and global exposure for Indian professionals. But repeated layoffs, visa dependency, political rhetoric around immigration, and AI-led restructuring are forcing many to rethink their future.
A recent Blind poll suggested that nearly half of Indian professionals in the US would consider returning to India if they lost their jobs. Others are exploring Canada and Europe as alternatives.
Meta employees affected by layoffs are reportedly receiving severance packages that include 16 weeks of base pay, plus two weeks for every year of continuous service. They are also expected to get 18 months of healthcare coverage for themselves and their families.
But for many H-1B workers, the issue is no longer only financial.
The emotional pressure of living under visa uncertainty is becoming harder to ignore. Unlike American employees, foreign workers cannot easily take career breaks, remain unemployed for long, or switch jobs casually. One layoff can disrupt an entire family’s life.
The situation is different for Indians who already have green cards or permanent residency. They may still face financial stress after job loss, but they do not face the immediate risk of leaving the US within weeks.
For H-1B workers, however, the consequences are much sharper.
AI Adds Another Fear
The layoffs are happening at a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly changing hiring patterns across the tech sector. Companies are flattening management layers, restructuring teams, and investing heavily in AI and automation.
This has created a new fear among workers: the slowdown may not be temporary.
Many professionals now worry that AI could permanently reduce hiring demand in some technology roles, especially routine engineering, support, and middle-management functions.
For Indian tech workers in the US, the challenge is no longer just about finding the next job. It is about finding one fast enough to protect an entire life built around the American dream.
