US ends extended work permit for H-1B visa holders, creating uncertainty

The US immigration authorities have ended an extended work permit programme that had granted H-1B visa holders 540 additional days of employment authorization while their green card applications were pending. The termination removes a critical lifeline for foreign workers, particularly those from India, who constitute a significant portion of the H-1B visa population.

Under the extended authorization, visa holders could continue working in the US even after their H-1B status technically expired, provided their green card petitions remained active. The 540-day extension had provided crucial flexibility for workers facing delays in the green card adjudication process, which often stretches for several years due to per-country caps and backlogs.

The decision to end the programme creates fresh uncertainty for thousands of highly skilled workers employed in sectors including information technology, engineering, and healthcare. Many workers now face the prospect of having to leave the US or seek alternative visa categories if their green card cases remain unresolved.

The H-1B visa programme, which allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, has become increasingly restrictive in recent years. Combined with extended green card processing times, the termination of the work permit extension has intensified concerns among Indian tech professionals and other skilled migrants about their long-term prospects in the American job market.