Trump Administration Proposes Cutting Grace Period for H-1B and Other Visas

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed ending the 60-day grace period that lets certain foreign workers, including H-1B visa holders, stay in the United States after losing their jobs while seeking a new sponsor. The proposal, published in a government notice, would scrap the post-employment window that workers and employers have used to transition between jobs or wind down status. If adopted, the rule would tighten status options for H-1B, L-1, and other visa holders by reducing the time available to find a new employer or depart the country, potentially increasing pressure to change jobs quickly or leave the U.S. before status expires. DHS says the change aims to strengthen program integrity and immigration enforcement. The notice invites public comment during a rulemaking process that typically lasts months, during which stakeholders—including tech companies, immigration attorneys, and workers—will weigh in with concerns about employment mobility, impact on the U.S. tech workforce, and effects on families and health coverage during transitions. For Indian professionals and other skilled migrants who rely on the grace period to secure new sponsorship, the proposal could alter planning and timelines. The administration's move is part of broader shifts in visa policy and enforcement priorities that will be clarified through the regulatory process.