What to do if you get laid off on an H-1B visa during the coronavirus pandemic

[Catalpha]

What to do if you get laid off on an H-1B visa during the coronavirus pandemic

While a sudden loss of employment is cause for concern for anyone, it comes with an additional concern for foreign workers who are in the U.S. on an H-1B visa.

That's because foreign workers facing unemployment have 60 days from termination to come up with a formal reason for staying in the U.S. That reason must be accepted by the U.S. government, or the foreign worker will have to leave the country. 

Jeremy Neufeld, an immigration policy analyst with the Washington, DC, think tank Niskanen Center estimated in a recent article that more than 200,000 foreign workers on H-1B visas could lose their legal status by the end of June. This could include employed foreign workers who have to renew their visas in June.

1. Talk to an immigration attorney 

2. Try to find a new employer

3. Change your visa status in the allotted 60-day time period

3a. Alternate visa options to consider include a visitor visa and a student visa

4. Apply for a spousal support visa