The White House Initiative on AA and NHPIs has approved a significant change to the H1-B visa program that will benefit skilled workers who have lost their jobs. The grace period for these workers, which previously lasted 60 days, has been extended to 180 days. This decision was made after a recommendation from the presidential advisory sub-committee, which argued that workers need more time to find new employment or alternative arrangements.
Over 100,000 H1-B workers who have been affected by layoffs in the United States will be relieved by this news. The recommendation for the extension of the grace period was voted on and approved during a meeting of the initiative, and will be implemented by the relevant administrative body in approximately three months.
In addition to the grace period extension, there was also a proposal to grant Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) and travel documents to all approved I-140 applicants after five years. However, this proposal was not voted on during the meeting, and the committee has postponed the vote until their next meeting in July.