Laid-off workers on H-1B visas trying to extend their stay in the US by switching to short-term B-2 permits are facing frequent demands for additional documentation and visa denials, amid the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies, said immigration experts.
Tech giants such as Amazon, Oracle, and Meta have laid off thousands of employees in the past few months, and a large number of the affected people are estimated to be from India on H-1B visas. The visa rules give them 60 days to find new employment, or they must return to their home countries.
In a market where finding a new job has become extremely tough, they are exploring options to buy time, like shifting to B-2 visas that permit stays up to six months.
B-2 visas are for travelling to the US for pleasure, tourism or medical treatment. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) a year ago archived the rules that allowed B-2 holders to search jobs.
