US to Enhance Visa Screening for Laid-Off H-1B Workers Seeking B-1/B-2 Status

US Immigration Authorities Tighten Scrutiny of Indian Professionals on Short-Term Visas

Thousands of Indian professionals affected by recent layoffs at major technology firms are facing tougher scrutiny from US immigration authorities while trying to remain in the country through short-term visitor visas. According to immigration lawyers and policy experts, companies including Amazon, Oracle, Cognizant, and Meta have cut jobs in recent months, impacting a significant number of Indian employees working on H-1B visas.

Under existing rules, workers who lose their jobs have 60 days to secure another employer or leave the United States. As job opportunities become harder to find, many affected workers are attempting to shift temporarily to B-2 visitor visas, which allow stays of up to six months. However, immigration attorneys report that applications seeking a change of status are increasingly attracting Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and denials.

Immigration attorneys have noted a significant spike in RFEs and Notices of Intent to Deny on B-1/B-2 change-of-status applications filed by laid-off H-1B workers. The volume of such applications has increased dramatically, with one attorney estimating that it is now running at roughly 10 times what would have been considered normal at any prior point in their career.

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The trend is not limited to a single attorney, with at least three other immigration experts confirming an increase in additional document requests and visa refusals in recent months. According to Layoffs.fyi, more than 110,000 workers across 144 companies have been laid off in 2026 in the technology and startup sectors.

The impact on H-1B employees is significant, with Boundless Immigration chief executive Xiao Wang estimating that tens of thousands of immigrant workers may have been affected over the past year and a half. Data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of Homeland Security showed that Indians accounted for 283,772 out of 406,348 approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2025, making them the largest beneficiaries of the programme.

The US Embassy in India has warned B1/B2 visa applicants against violating visa conditions. Applicants are cautioned to understand what activities are permitted while visiting the United States and to avoid misusing their visa or overstaying their welcome. Failure to comply with visa conditions can result in permanent bans from future travel.

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Note: The exact number of layoffs for each company is not specified in the article.