The US government is reviewing a proposal to eliminate the 60-day grace period that allows H-1B visa holders to stay in the country and seek new employment after losing their jobs, according to livemint.com. This change, if approved, would tighten rules for foreign workers whose employment ends before their authorized stay expires, impacting many Indian professionals working in the US.
The proposal was submitted by the US Department of Homeland Security and is currently under review. The existing 60-day grace period provides H-1B visa holders valuable time to find another employer and maintain their immigration status. Removing this period would reduce the time available for workers and their families to respond to sudden job loss, potentially forcing them to leave the country more quickly, livemint.com reported.
This potential policy shift comes amid ongoing debates about immigration and foreign labor in the US. The H-1B visa program is widely used by Indian IT professionals and other skilled workers. Eliminating the grace period could increase uncertainty for these workers and affect the Indian talent pool in the US tech sector. The move would mark a significant tightening compared to current rules that offer some flexibility after job termination.
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet finalized the rule change. The proposal’s review status was reported on August 9, 2026, by livemint.com, highlighting the ongoing discussions around US visa policies affecting Indian nationals.