The United States is reviewing a proposal that would remove a provision allowing certain visa holders up to 60 days to secure new employment after losing their jobs, a change that could significantly affect hundreds of thousands of foreign workers and their families.

The White House Office of Management and Budget is currently examining a proposed regulation that would eliminate the 60-day grace period available to foreign workers whose employment is terminated before their authorized stay expires. The provision has not yet been finalized, and full details of the proposed changes remain undisclosed. If adopted, the rule would require affected workers and their dependents to leave the country almost immediately upon job loss.

The existing 60-day grace period, established in 2017, was designed to provide flexibility for highly skilled foreign workers facing sudden unemployment. During this window, affected workers can search for new employment, apply for alternative visa categories, or explore other legal options to remain in the United States. The provision currently applies to workers in multiple visa categories including H-1B, H-1B1, E-1, E-2, E-3, L-1, O-1, and TN visas, along with their dependents.

The proposed elimination would have substantial implications for the Indian expatriate community in the United States. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, 71 percent of approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2024 were granted to individuals born in India. Approximately 5.2 million people of Indian origin currently reside in the United States based on recent census data. Beyond H-1B holders, the proposed change would affect workers across multiple visa categories, potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of foreign professionals and their families who depend on this transition period.