Layoffs squeeze H‑1B tech workers

Meta, Amazon and LinkedIn layoffs in May 2026 have renewed pressure on H-1B visa holders in the U.S., particularly Indian tech workers whose legal status is tied to their jobs. The cuts come as visible reductions at large technology companies continue to draw attention even while aggregate layoff measures remain relatively low, according to recent reporting by The Washington Post and Business Insider. For workers on H-1B visas, the stakes are higher than for many U.S. employees because a dismissal can trigger a countdown to find a new sponsor, change immigration status or leave the country. ### Why do these layoffs hit H-1B workers differently? USCIS says certain employment-based visa holders, including H-1B workers, may receive an “up to 60-day grace period” after termination. During that period, the agency says a worker can seek a new employer, file to change status, or take other steps to remain in a period of authorized stay. If no action is taken within that window, the worker and dependents may need to leave the United States when the grace period ends, or when the authorized validity period ends, whichever is shorter. (msn.com) NDTV reported on May 21 that Indian tech workers affected by layoffs at Meta, Amazon and LinkedIn were confronting exactly that deadline. Its report said the combination of job cuts and visa rules had left many workers scrambling to secure new sponsorship before their time runs out. ### Which companies are still cutting jobs? (uscis.gov) Business Insider reported this week that more than 30 companies have announced layoffs in 2026, including Meta, Amazon, Walmart and LinkedIn. Its running tally said some employers have tied cuts to artificial intelligence, restructuring or broader cost controls, even as other teams continue hiring. The Washington Post reported on May 21 that layoffs “are about as low as they’ve been in years” in the aggregate, despite the prominence of cuts at large employers. (ndtv.com) That mismatch helps explain why the labor market can feel harsher inside technology and white-collar roles than broader national data suggests. ### Why are Indian tech workers mentioned so often in this story? (businessinsider.com) NDTV said Indian professionals are especially exposed because they make up a large share of H-1B workers in U.S. technology jobs. Business Today, in a May 22 report on the same issue, said Indians filed 283,772 H-1B petitions in fiscal 2025, underscoring how many workers could be affected when major tech employers trim staff. (msn.com) People Matters reported on May 21 that recent layoffs at Meta, Amazon and other companies were placing renewed pressure on Indian professionals in America as companies restructure around AI investment, automation and cost controls. That report described a narrow job-search window and heightened uncertainty for workers whose immigration status depends on employer sponsorship. (ndtv.com) ### What does the 60-day window actually allow? USCIS says a terminated worker does not necessarily need to leave immediately if a nonfrivolous petition to change employer, extend stay, or change status is filed within the grace period. The agency says the period of authorized stay can extend beyond 60 days if one of those actions is taken in time. (peoplematters.in) That means the practical challenge is not only finding any job, but finding an employer ready to move quickly on sponsorship paperwork. In a market where companies are still hiring selectively while cutting elsewhere, that timing can matter as much as the layoff itself. That is an inference drawn from the USCIS rules and current layoff reports. ### Where can affected workers look next? (uscis.gov) USCIS maintains a public page listing options for nonimmigrant workers after termination, including employer transfer petitions and applications to change status. Business Insider’s 2026 layoff tracker and continuing company disclosures are also likely to remain reference points as more employers announce cuts or targeted hiring plans in the coming weeks. (uscis.gov)