U.S. proposes ending 60-Day grace period for work visas
Washington, Sept. 11 -- The Trump administration has proposed ending the up-to-60-day grace period that Indian and other foreign professionals on H-1B, O-1, L-1 and certain other US work visas get after losing or leaving their jobs, potentially requiring them to leave the country almost immediately.
The proposal, issued by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), would eliminate the period that has allowed eligible foreign workers to remain in the US while looking for new employment or otherwise regularising their immigration status. The proposed rule will be opened for public comment, after which the US government may finalise it. The 60-day grace period, in place since 2017, allows foreign workers time to find another U.S. job or get their affairs in order - whether selling a home or pulling children out of school - before leaving the country.
"This proposal restores a direct relationship between an alien's non-immigrant status and the specific employment or activity that formed the basis of his or her admission or grant of status in the US and reduces administrative burden," DHS said in a statement on Thursday.
The department said removing the grace period would require a foreign worker to depart the US immediately after they cease to maintain the employment or activity that formed the basis of their nonimmigrant classification or status, "unless otherwise authorized to lawfully remain in the United States".
The change would leave foreign workers with little or no time to find another US employer or make arrangements to leave the country, including winding up their affairs. The draft rule acknowledges that the proposal could impose costs on foreign workers and said more foreign talent could also be issued notices to appear before immigration authorities. The proposal comes amid a series of restrictive changes to the US legal immigration system under President Donald Trump. In August, the US government proposed a new $103,265 application fee....
To read the full article or to get the complete feed from this publication, please
Contact Us.