‘I only have three weeks left in the U.S.’: Fired H1-B employee says he’s racing against time after losing job

A foreign worker in the United States finds himself racing against time as a job loss leaves them with just three weeks left on their visa. This prompted strangers on Reddit to offer urgent advice on how the worker could stay in the country.The worker is H-1B visa and explained that their employer had submitted an extension application under regular processing, but they were informed that they would be laid off in the last week of April. The timing puts them in a precarious position as their visas are set to expire in the first week of May.“I’m in a very irritated situation. My current employer is processing my H1B extension application normally. I was waiting for approval until I found out I was laid off in the last week of April,” the user wrote. My current visa expires in the first week of May. I have three weeks left in the United States. “They also discussed their previous unemployment experiences, adding: “I always have backup ready, but this time I was too tired and didn’t think clearly. I’ve been laid off twice before.”The post went viral, and other users became familiar with the complexities of U.S. immigration rules, many of which are tied directly to employers. Once employment ends, visa holders typically have a limited amount of time to find a new job, switch visa categories, or leave the country.Several commenters emphasized the importance of faster processing options in this situation. One user wrote: “This is why I tell everyone, in this economy, no matter how secure you think your job is, go for expedited processing. Don’t wait months for your h1 to be approved.”They also recommend taking immediate steps: “See if your application can still be approved through premium processing. It buys you at least two months to search for a job and consider your options. “Others urged workers to first confirm the details of the layoffs and explore internal options. “How sure are you that you were fired, does that mean the source was your HR, manager? Is there a way to explain your situation to them and ask for an extension, options in home country, etc?” one comment read.Legal advice was repeatedly suggested, with one user saying: “Speak to an immigration lawyer as soon as possible to explore your options. A good solicitor will give you the best advice for your circumstances and you should use that solicitor to make any choices you decide on. “Practical advice also includes expedited processing fees for individual payments. “If it’s for personal reasons, you can pay the expedited processing fee of approximately $2,800. You will need to ask your current HR or legal staff to submit Form I-907 as I believe they are required to sign it.”They add urgency to their advice: “Don’t wait, because 15 working days is exactly three weeks, which is pretty much all the time you have left. If you submit your application tomorrow, you can get your answer by the time you walk out the door.”Another option put forward is to move quickly to find a new employer willing to transfer the visa, thereby potentially avoiding an immediate departure.