President Biden, DHS, USCIS: Extend H1B Grace Period to One Year for Laid off workers

President Biden, DHS, USCIS: Extend H1B Grace Period to One Year for Laid off workers

Started
February 1, 2023
Signatures: 3,262Next Goal: 5,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by FIIDS USA

We request the President of United States Joe Biden, Director of Department of Homeland Security and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend laid-off H1B Holder's Grace period from 2 months to 12 months on humanitarian ground during this recession period as well as to stop the brain drain of high tech skilled professionals. 

Since Oct'22, about ~175,000 tech professionals have been laid off in the United States. According to http://layoffstracker.com 91,000 were laid off just in Jan 2023 and this number may grow in coming months. This has a huge impact on them, and their families, especially to the H1b holders who would need to leave the US immediately within 10 days beyond the H1b grace period. In addition to the impact on them and their families, this is also a long term impact on talent that the US has. For example, 70% of startup founders are immigrants including 50+ CEOs of public companies are from Indian origin. Hence, the exodus of this talent from the US is harmful for the long term interests of the US, specially in the modern age of Artificial Intelligence competition.

The laid off H-1B holders currently have about 60 days to find another employer to file for H-1B transfer or leave the country. During the current economic situation, it would be impossible for these are hardworking, tax paying and talented people to get hired till the economy recovers.

Hence, on behalf of immigrants (from the world, mainly from India, China)  as well as naturalized citizens like, Indian American Citizens, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (http://FIIDS-USA.org and Global Technology Professionals Association (GITPRO) has submitted an appeal to the President of the United States, the Secretary of DHS and the director of USCIS to extend the current grace period from 60 days to 1 year (minimum 6 months). We join the appeal and request to sympathetically consider the impact of the families on humanitarian ground. We believe that this extension will pause this brain drain and ensure that the US will continue to be a world leader in technology and innovation. We also request elected officials to support this extension and if needed introduce a bill in the House of Representatives.

 

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Signatures: 3,262Next Goal: 5,000
Support now
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