H-1B crisis deepens as Meta, Amazon layoffs push Indian workers toward uncertain future in US

Thousands of Indian tech professionals in the United States are facing mounting uncertainty as layoffs across major technology firms continue to threaten their jobs and immigration status. With companies such as Meta, Amazon and Oracle reducing workforce strength, many Indian employees on H-1B visas are now under pressure to secure new jobs within the mandatory 60-day grace period set by US immigration rules, as per reports.

Under the H-1B system, foreign workers who lose employment must quickly find another employer willing to sponsor their visa or leave the country. For many Indians who have reportedly spent years building careers and families in the US, the situation has become increasingly stressful.

As per reports, many laid-off workers are now attempting to shift temporarily to B-2 visitor visas, which can allow them to stay in the US for up to six months while continuing their job search. However, immigration experts say approvals for such status changes are becoming more difficult amid stricter scrutiny from US authorities.

Legal experts handling immigration cases have reportedly seen a sharp rise in requests for additional documents and notices of intent to deny applications filed by laid-off H-1B workers seeking B-1 or B-2 visa status. 

The uncertainty comes alongside massive layoffs across the global technology sector. As per reports, more than 1.1 lakh employees across 144 tech companies have lost jobs in 2026 so far. Immigration experts believe a large number of them are H-1B workers, many of whom are Indians.

Indians continue to dominate the H-1B visa programme. Indian nationals reportedly account for nearly 2.84 lakh of the 4.06 lakh approved H-1B petitions in FY25. That dependence on employer-sponsored visas is now exposing many workers to serious risks during layoffs.

For several Indian professionals, the issue reportedly goes beyond employment. Many have spent years waiting for green cards due to long backlogs, while also managing home loans, families and children born in the US. Immigration experts say frustration and emotional stress are growing among workers who feel uncertain about their long-term future in the country.

Reports suggest that many Indian professionals are now exploring alternatives in Canada and Europe as backup options. Some workers are considering immigration pathways such as Canada’s Express Entry programme, while others are looking into student visas, intra-company transfer visas and specialised talent-based visas in the US.

The latest concerns have intensified after Meta initiated another round of global layoffs as part of its AI-focused restructuring plans. Reports indicate that employees in multiple regions, including Singapore, the US and Europe, have begun receiving layoff notices, though the exact number of affected employees remains unclear.

Internal company communications reportedly indicate that Meta is restructuring teams to focus more aggressively on artificial intelligence projects. The company has also reassigned thousands of employees to AI-related divisions as CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to push AI development to the centre of the company’s long-term strategy.

The layoffs are expected to mainly affect engineering and product teams, with Meta reportedly planning to invest more than $100 billion in AI-related infrastructure and development this year. Anxiety among H-1B workers is continuing to rise as uncertainty over jobs and immigration status grows across the tech industry.