For families planning to study in the United States, those already working in the U.S., or those hoping for their children to remain in the U.S. long-term, the uncertainty of the path to staying in the U.S. is increasing.
In the past, many believed that as long as one entered a prestigious university, found a good job, and joined a major tech company, they could stay in the U.S. step-by-step along the path of OPT, H-1B, and employer-sponsored green cards. However, in recent years, from tech companies to large enterprises, layoffs, business restructuring, and job adjustments have been occurring constantly, and the traditional path to staying in the U.S. is facing more realistic challenges.
I. Oracle Annual Report Discloses: Significant Reduction in Workforce
The annual report released by Oracle on June 22 (local time) shows that as of May 31, the company's total number of employees was 141,000, compared to approximately 162,000 in the same period last year. In other words, Oracle's total headcount decreased by approximately 13% in fiscal year 2026, with a layoff scale of about 21,000 people. The document also disclosed that Oracle spent $1.84 billion on severance and other termination costs related to restructuring in fiscal year 2026, far higher than the $374 million in the previous fiscal year.
This news sends a realistic signal: layoffs at major companies are becoming a risk that many people staying in the U.S. have to face.
For local U.S. employees, layoffs mean looking for a new job; but for foreign nationals holding statuses such as OPT or H-1B, layoffs affect not just a job, but their entire plan for staying in the U.S.
II. The Traditional Path to Staying in the U.S. is Facing More Uncertainty
For many international student families, the familiar path to staying in the U.S. in the past was mostly: first go to the U.S. to study with F-1 status, work in the U.S. via OPT after graduation, then participate in the H-1B lottery, and subsequently wait for employer support for a green card application.
This path seems clear, but when actually reaching each step, one will encounter different variables.
Whether OPT can successfully transition to a suitable job, whether the H-1B can be won in the lottery, whether the employer is willing to provide long-term support, whether the position meets the requirements, whether the green card priority date is extended, and whether policies continue to change—none of these are things that students and families can fully control.
Especially for H-1B, it is essentially highly dependent on the employer. If an employee holding H-1B status is laid off, they need to find a new compliant employer within 60 days and complete the status transition. Otherwise, even if they have already studied and worked in the U.S. for many years, they may face the pressure of having to leave the country.
Especially in recent years, discussions surrounding student visas, OPT, H-1B, and employment rules for foreign employees have continued to emerge, and the traditional path is becoming more complex. (For details, please click to read the WorldWay article report: Changes to OPT/H-1B again, how can students in the U.S. save themselves?)
III. Staying in the U.S. Should Not Just Be a Path of Passive Waiting
For many families, studying in the U.S. is in itself a long-term investment.
Tuition, living expenses, time costs, and career planning are all backed by years of family accumulation and arrangement. However, if the status issue remains unresolved, even if the child completes their studies and enters the workplace, their future may still be at the mercy of lotteries, employers, layoffs, and policy changes.
This is why status planning should not wait until after graduation to begin.
Waiting until OPT is about to expire to get anxious, waiting until the H-1B lottery is lost to look for solutions, or waiting until the employer does not provide support to consider a green card often means having already lost the most relaxed time for planning.
Truly mature planning for staying in the U.S. is not about remedying problems after they appear, but about preparing a second path in advance while the child still has room for choice.
IV. EB-5 Provides Another Way of Thinking About Staying in the U.S.
Against the backdrop of increasing uncertainty in traditional paths, EB-5 is becoming an important choice for more families to lay out their U.S. status in advance.
In the past, many families understood planning for staying in the U.S. as "first study abroad, then work, then enter the lottery, then wait for employer sponsorship." But EB-5 provides another way of thinking: through compliant investment and job creation, plan for U.S. permanent resident status in advance, reducing reliance on lotteries, employers, and single job opportunities.
• For students planning to study in the U.S., educational planning should be considered simultaneously with status planning, reserving more room for choice for future further studies, employment, and long-term stay in the U.S.
• For students already studying in the U.S., planning for EB-5 in advance can reduce the single-path reliance on OPT and H-1B after graduation.
• For those already working in the U.S. holding H-1B, EB-5 can also serve as a status alternative outside of employer sponsorship, reducing the impact of layoffs, job changes, and company restructuring.
Especially after the implementation of the new EB-5 law, advantages such as reserved visa categories, the "concurrent filing" mechanism, and priority processing for rural projects have made this status planning path receive more attention from families.
However, it is worth noting that the "grandfather clause" protection period of the new EB-5 policy will expire on September 30, 2026. By submitting an application before this date, even if policies change in the future, the applicant can still continue to be processed according to the current legal rules. The time left for applicants to plan calmly is running out. (Click to read the previous WorldWay article report: Missing 2026.9.30, what variables does the EB-5 green card face?)
WorldWay holds high-quality EB-5 projects such as "Marriott Lakeview Resort" and "Sugar Mountain Hilton Hotel", helping investors quickly realize their U.S. status planning.
Great news! To help investors sprint for the EB-5 "930" golden window, WorldWay has launched a limited-time promotional event. Customers who process U.S. immigration projects during June 2026 can enjoy exclusive WorldWay discounts. For details, please contact your exclusive WorldWay consultant or customer service.
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