Foreigners fired from tech companies in the US struggle to not lose visas

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Foreign workers make up nearly a quarter of the nation’s science and technology workforce, according to California Congresswomen Anna Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren. Demonstration outside Google’s offices in response to recent layoffs, in New York City, held on February 2 Ed Jones/AFP Fired foreign workers from US technology companies, whose visas depend on their employment, struggle to find work to avoid being forced to leave the country. More than 150,000 US jobs have disappeared in recent months, dealing an economic blow to Silicon Valley not seen since the tech bubble that burst in the early 2000s. Share on WhatsApp Share on Telegram As the massive wave of layoffs spreads among American tech companies, many who lost their jobs remain in the country on H1-B or other visas that depend on their jobs, according to California Congresswomen Anna Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren. Both wrote a letter urging US immigration officials to at least double the 60-day period that allows foreign workers holding work visas to get new jobs. Without a new job in a company that takes care of the visa, the dismissed ones will have to leave the country. “They are completely panicked,” reported Tahmina Watson, an immigration attorney in Seattle (northwest). “They’re at an absolute crossroads because they don’t know what they’re going to do.” What’s going on with the ‘big techs’? ‘Big Techs’ already laid off 40 thousand in 2023; total in the sector is 100,000, according to a survey According to Eshoo and Lofgren, foreign workers represent almost a quarter of the workforce in the US science and technology sector. Tech workers have often settled down and started a family in the US, their supporters explained to AFP. “They went from two-income families to no-income families with mortgages, marriages, car payments and kids,” Watson recalls. “Sixty days is not enough time to sort things out; not enough time to find another job and then apply for another H1-B visa.” The Foundation for Indian Studies and the Indian Diaspora published a petition on the Change.org portal asking US President Joe Biden to extend the visa grace period by one year on humanitarian grounds. The petition has gathered more than 2,300 signatures since Wednesday. “My request is to increase the shortage and allow workers to resolve their situations,” said foundation director Khanderao Kand. Talent exodus The US economy will be hit hard if there is an exodus of immigrant tech talent, the petition’s supporters argue. More than half of multibillion-dollar tech companies were founded by immigrants, Eshoo and Lofgren wrote in their letter to US Citizenship and Immigration Services leaders. “To ensure that the successful companies of the future are based in the United States, we must prevent this brain drain from happening,” they ask in the letter. Silicon Valley is home to numerous immigrants from China, Europe and India, many of whom are not just employees but job creators, with startups or investment capital, Kand said. Talent forced to leave the US, who in the process leave with their families and dreams, will settle elsewhere and likely won’t return, he warned. Giving immigrant talent a chance to stay could fuel a startup boom, as some of those laid off start their own companies, says Watson. “If we lose this talent, I think it will affect us in the future, because these people will realize that the United States is not interested,” added the lawyer. Among the tactics used by the newly unemployed is switching to tourist visas, which give them six months to find work or sort out red tape, according to Watson. “If they can’t find another job, that gives them time to sell the car, get out of the lease, do whatever it takes — or try to get to Canada.” “As we close our doors to immigrants, Canada is doing the opposite by welcoming them.” While layoffs at tech giants like Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft make headlines, smaller companies are laying people off too, said Reza Malekzadeh, president of French Tech San Francisco. “I think culturally Europeans are not used to this, especially the French. They are not used to being fired easily,” Malekzadeh said. “We try to help each other. I haven’t seen a big wave yet. [de imigrantes] returning to France; I think they still have hope.” READ ALSO: Zoom announces layoffs of 1,300 employees How Apple became an exception in the mass layoffs of tech giants Microsoft announces layoffs of 10,000 employees Big tech layoffs: what is happening to Google, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon

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