Skilled workers fear losing their jobs

Thousands of foreign skilled workers travel to the US annually to perform specialized work at local companies.

They contribute greatly to the country’s economy. They also help with the development and growth of medium and small companies.

In order to come to the US as a qualified worker, the foreigner must be an H-1B visa holder. This permit is valid for up to 3 years initially.

Local employers send a petition to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for the skilled worker to be legally admitted in the country.

What is the current situation of foreign workers?

The Coronavirus outbreak has had many repercussions in all the labor areas of the world.

Skilled workers are experiencing a difficult time in the US because there is a possibility that their work will be interrupted by the COVID-19 health emergency.

One of the requirements to remain in the country with this visa is to be labor-active during the period of validity of the permit.

Normally, if foreign H-1B visa holders lose their job, they have a 60-day grace period to find another one and reside legally in the country.

If they cannot find a job during that period of time, they must return to their country and if they do not return on their own, they will be deported.

However, with the COVID-19 situation, it is very likely that if they lose their current job, they will not be able to find another one in the next 60 days.

Therefore, a request was made earlier this week asking the US government to extend the grace period for H-1B Visa holders from 60 days to 180 days. In this way, they have the opportunity to find another job when the contagion peak decreases in the country.

It is better not to deport skilled workers

Foreign skilled workers are a key piece to get out of the current crisis.

When COVID-19 is under control, local companies must be ready to be a socio-economic boost for the country.

We depend on them to get out of the economic crisis and unemployment we are currently facing.

Therefore, the best decision the government can make is to cease deportations of H-1B skilled workers as they will help the country return to stability.

It is important to remember that thousands of H-1B Visa holders are healthcare workers who are currently helping save lives and mitigate mass contagion in US territories. If they are deported, the health system will be negatively impacted and we would be losing crucial time in this crisis.

The positive side of the situation is that the US has a large number of methods to change your residence permit or request a change of status.

The government allows foreigners to try different tools to be able to stay in the country legally.

If you are a skilled worker and fear deportation, the best solution is to find an appropriate guide for your specific case.

You could be a great help to the country in these times of crisis and you could contribute to return to normality as soon as possible.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.