US immigration: DHS considers ending 60-day grace period for H-1B workers

H-1B visa immigration policy grace period PERM process Department of Homeland Security

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering a proposal that would eliminate the 60-day grace period currently granted to certain non-immigrant visa holders, including those on H-1B, L-1, and O-1 visas, after they lose their jobs. Under the current rules established in 2017, these workers and their dependents are given up to 60 days to find a new employer or change their immigration status. If the proposed rule (RIN 1615-AD22) is adopted, affected individuals may be required to leave the country almost immediately following a layoff.

The proposal is currently under review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The potential change significantly impacts the Indian expatriate community, as Indian nationals accounted for 71% of approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2024.

In a separate but related development, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt has called on the Department of Labor to modernize the Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) process. Schmitt argued that the current rules, which have not been substantially updated in over 20 years, allow companies to bypass American workers in favor of cheaper foreign labor. He proposed that employers must advertise PERM positions on their regular career websites and at least one major online employment platform to ensure transparency.

Entities

Department of Homeland Security · Department of Labor · Donald Trump · Eric Schmitt · India · Judy Chu · Mazie Hirono · Pramila Jayapal · Raja Krishnamoorthi · US Citizenship and Immigration Services · United States · White House Office of Management and Budget

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri has requested the Department of Labor to modernize the PERM recruitment process. www.socialnews.xyz · yespunjab.com · indias.news · www.bhaskarhindi.com
[● 10 SOURCES] The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to eliminate the 60-day grace period for H-1B visa holders after job loss. timesng.com · www.greatandhra.com · www.news18.com · www.aajtak.in · hindi.news18.com · +4 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Indian nationals accounted for 71% of approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2024. www.news18.com · www.aajtak.in · hindi.news18.com · www.ibc24.in · www.newsbytesapp.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The proposed rule RIN 1615-AD22 is currently under review by the White House Office of Management and Budget. timesng.com · www.greatandhra.com · www.news18.com
[● 10 SOURCES] If the grace period is removed, workers and their dependents may have to leave the US immediately following job loss. www.news18.com · www.greatandhra.com · www.aajtak.in · timesng.com · hindi.news18.com · +4 more
[● 4 SOURCES] Senator Schmitt wants employers to advertise every PERM position on their regular careers website and at least one widely used online employment platform. yespunjab.com · indias.news · www.bhaskarhindi.com · www.socialnews.xyz