Green Card Delays & Job Cuts Deepen Uncertainty for Workers

Green Card: For decades, the United States has promoted itself as a global magnet for talent, attracting engineers, scientists, researchers, and technology professionals from around the world. Yet today, thousands of highly skilled workers find themselves trapped in a system where employment security and legal status are inseparably linked. The growing H-1B visa layoffs crisis has exposed deep cracks in the immigration structure, revealing how quickly professional stability can turn into personal uncertainty.

As waves of layoffs ripple across major sectors, particularly technology, foreign professionals on temporary work visas face not only the loss of income but the potential loss of their lives in America. Careers built over years can unravel within weeks, forcing workers to navigate an unforgiving mix of immigration rules and economic volatility.

Green Card: The H-1B Visa System – Limited Access in a High-Demand Economy

The H-1B visa remains the principal route for skilled foreign professionals seeking employment in the United States. Yet the system is defined by scarcity. Federal immigration authorities issue 65,000 standard visas annually, alongside an additional 20,000 slots reserved for individuals holding advanced US degrees. Once that cap is reached, the door closes until the next fiscal cycle.

Demand continues to surge far beyond available supply. For the fiscal year 2026 lottery, hundreds of thousands of eligible registrations competed for a limited number of opportunities, highlighting how tightly controlled legal work authorization has become. Even professionals already embedded in US companies face a lottery-driven system that determines whether they can continue contributing their expertise.

In the context of the H-1B visa layoffs crisis, these restrictions mean that losing a job can rapidly translate into losing legal standing, regardless of experience or performance.

Layoffs Turn Professional Setbacks into Immigration Emergencies

Recent economic shifts have intensified these pressures. Technology firms and other large corporations announced tens of thousands of layoffs in early 2025, reshaping the employment landscape. While layoffs are disruptive for any worker, they carry uniquely severe consequences for those on H-1B visas.

Immigration regulations provide a 60-day grace period after job termination. During this time, affected professionals must secure a new employer willing to sponsor their visa or prepare to leave the country. In a cooling job market where companies hesitate to expand payrolls, this narrow window often proves unrealistic.

The H-1B visa layoffs crisis has therefore transformed what might otherwise be a temporary career setback into a race against time. Families must consider uprooting children from schools, selling homes, or abandoning long-term plans within weeks.

Green Card Pathways Slowed by Bureaucracy and Corporate Restructuring

Even workers who retain their jobs face mounting challenges. The employment-based green card process begins with the PERM labour certification, which requires employers to demonstrate that no qualified US workers are available for a given role. While intended to protect domestic labour markets, the process has become increasingly slow.

Recent data indicate that PERM processing times now extend to roughly 17 months on average, excluding mandatory recruitment stages. Corporate layoffs complicate the situation further. Employers reducing their workforce are often reluctant to initiate or continue green card sponsorship, fearing regulatory scrutiny and compliance risks.

Timing is everything. Under existing rules, H-1B visa holders can extend their stay beyond six years only if their green card petition has been pending for at least 365 days. Missing that milestone can force skilled professionals to leave the country even while maintaining successful careers.

In the broader H-1B visa layoffs crisis, administrative delays amplify uncertainty, transforming a bureaucratic process into a life-altering gamble.

Workers Explore Alternatives Amid Growing Uncertainty

Facing these realities, many professionals are rethinking their future plans. Some consider returning to their home countries, while others explore alternative visa categories or self-sponsored immigration pathways such as the National Interest Waiver. However, these options require extensive documentation, significant legal costs, and unpredictable approval outcomes.

For many, the emotional toll is as severe as the professional risk. Workers describe living in a constant state of contingency planning, weighing career ambitions against immigration deadlines. Families who once saw the United States as a long-term home now confront the possibility of sudden departure.