WorldWay·US Immigration Status Insights
Netflix lays off 1,000 employees, while eBay cuts another 1,000 positions. As two tech giants adjust their workforce one after another, many foreign nationals working in the US feel a sink in their hearts——the moment a job is lost, the countdown affects not only job hunting, but also their subsequent immigration status arrangements.
WorldWay Immigration has noted continuous layoff news in the US tech sector recently:
Netflix: Announced laying off about 1,000 employees
Accounting for 6% of its global workforce, this is the largest round since 2022, affecting multiple departments including Product, Engineering, Legal, and HR.
eBay: Cumulative cut of about 1,800 positions during the year
Cutting about 1,000 more positions ( 9% of total workforce), which, together with about 800 in February this year, brings the cumulative cuts to about 1,800 positions within the year.
What is thought-provoking is Netflix's explanation——the company's business continues to grow, and full-year performance targets are expected to be met, but for "long-term growth goals", staffing and resources need to be allocated more strictly.
Meanwhile, statistics show that the number of people affected by tech layoffs in 2026 has approached 200,000. As of the end of September, US tech companies have announced 165,925 layoffs, a year-on-year increase of 54%.
For local US employees, a layoff is a career issue; for foreign workers holding an H-1B visa, a layoff is first and foremost a status issue.
H-1B is an employer-sponsored visa——your legal stay is directly tied to that terminated employment relationship. Under current rules, after the employment relationship ends, there is usually a grace period of up to 60 days.
However, this "60 days" does not mean you can wait at peace:
Work cannot be directly continued
The grace period itself does not grant work authorization; applicants must comply with their original work authorization and relevant regulations.
Status transitions need to be arranged promptly
Applicants can look for a new employer based on their circumstances, apply for an eligible change of status, or apply for other applicable immigration benefits.
Time limits must be watched carefully
If appropriate status arrangements are not completed within the specified time, there is a risk of being unable to continue staying legally.
And the rules themselves are tightening further. On September 11, 2026, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule planning to eliminate the 60-day grace period following job loss for visa holders including H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-1/E-2/E-3, and TN. As of now, the rule is still in the public comment period (ending November 10) and has not yet taken effect——but the direction is clear: the room for a "buffer" is being systematically compressed.
📎 Further Reading: "99.2% Are H-1B! The US Unemployment Grace Period Is Coming to an End"
In the past, some applicants might have viewed the 60-day grace period as a buffer after losing a job; as policy adjustments are placed on the agenda, the importance of planning status arrangements in advance becomes even more prominent.
A job relates to personal career development and may also affect current work status. However, if the entire family's plan to stay in the US rests solely on a single employer, then every layoff announcement becomes a risk exposure for the whole family.
If H-1B primarily addresses the status need to work legally in the US, then for families hoping to live and develop long-term in the US, further consideration is needed on how to plan a more stable long-term status.
The EB-5 Investor Visa under the new law provides another option for eligible investors:
No reliance on employer sponsorship
It does not require a US employer to provide a position, nor does it require PERM labor certification or the H-1B lottery, and no layoff notice can shake it.
Three set-aside visa categories currently have no backlog
The three set-aside visa categories—Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure—currently continue to have no visa backlog, and Rural projects also enjoy priority processing.
Concurrent filing available for eligible applicants
For those already inside the US, holding legal status, and meeting other requirements, concurrent filing is available: simultaneously submitting the I-526E immigrant petition and I-485 adjustment of status application, while applying for an EAD work permit and AP advance parole.
Once the relevant applications are approved, holding an EAD allows legal employment, and under eligible circumstances, one can enter and exit the country using AP. That is to say, changing jobs, being unemployed, or starting a business will no longer directly affect your status.
Prestigious university degrees and top-tier company resumes cannot completely prevent the changes brought by a layoff email.
This wave of tech industry layoffs serves as a reminder to H-1B holders: career development can be taken step by step, but status planning must stay ahead of changes.
While work and life are still stable, examine all pathways clearly——when the storm really arrives, the options in your hands will be the composure that others lack.
