Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

US: Layoffs hurt Indian workers amid 195-year wait for permanent residency

Job cuts at Meta and Twitter have proven disadvantageous for around 350 immigrants, report says.

US: Layoffs hurt Indian workers amid 195-year wait for permanent residency

Layoffs in the US technology sector have impacted the Indian community who are staying there on temporary visas more than any other foreign groups.

Their problem has arisen due to backlogs in obtaining green cards or permanent residency in the country.

Major companies have resorted to mass layoffs as soaring inflation is eroding their profits. H-1B visa holders who lost their jobs have to find new employment in the country within two months if they want to continue their stay there.

H-1B visas are issued for three years with a provision for extension and each year a maximum of 85,000 foreigners are allowed. The demand is high for visas, particularly among Indian professionals.

However, America’s immigration laws allow H-1B visa holders to stay in the country for only up to 60 days after the termination of their contracts. They have to leave the country unless some other employers sponsor their visas.

Amazon, Twitter, Meta and Lyft and other technology companies have sponsored some 45,000 H-1B visas over the past three years and layoffs at Meta and Twitter have proven to be disadvantageous for around 350 immigrants, a Bloomberg report said.

A congressional document estimated that the waiting time for Indians who applied for green cards in 2020 goes to as long as 195 years. This compares 18 years for Chinese workers and less than a year for people from the rest of the world.

The Bloomberg report cited the example of an H-1B holder from India, who recently bought a house in Seattle to start a job with Meta.

Having lived in the US for 15 years, the father of two is now hoping to find a job as a technical product or program manager. He has been scouring his networks on LinkedIn, joining dedicated WhatsApp groups and submitting application after application, the report said.

More For You

Police Recover £1M Stolen Jewellery in Hounslow, Owners Sought

The jewellery was largely taken from London’s South Asian community in Hounslow between 2023 and 2024. (Photo: Met Police)

Stolen jewellery worth £1m recovered in Hounslow, police seek owners

POLICE are seeking to reunite stolen jewellery worth over £1 million with its rightful owners after recovering the items during a proactive operation across London and the home counties.

The recovered collection includes identifiable pieces such as a World War One officer’s Rolex watch, a gold locket containing old pictures, an engraved gold ring, and an engraved gold pocket watch from Harlow Bros Ltd.

Keep ReadingShow less
british-muslims

The initiative aims to track incidents, raise awareness of hate crime, and provide better victim support.

iStock)

Government announces fund to combat anti-Muslim hate

THE UK government has announced a new fund to monitor anti-Muslim hate and support victims, with applications opening on 7 April.

The initiative aims to track incidents, raise awareness of hate crime, and provide better victim support.

Keep ReadingShow less
Probe launched over racist broadcast at Kent asylum centre

FILE PHOTO: Entrance of Manston short-term holding centre for migrants, near Ramsgate in southeast England. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

Probe launched over racist broadcast at Kent asylum centre

AUTHORITIES have launched an investigation following reports that a racist message was broadcast over portable radios at an asylum processing centre in Kent.

The incident occurred at the Manston site, where small boat arrivals are processed by the Home Office and its contractor, Mitie, reported The Guardian.

Keep ReadingShow less
Protest against dog crackdown ahead of Modi's Sri Lanka visit

Sri Lankan animal rights activists take part in a demonstration in Colombo on April 3, 2025, to protest the round-up of stray dogs a day ahead of a visit by Narendra Modi. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Protest against dog crackdown ahead of Modi's Sri Lanka visit

SRI LANKAN animal rights activists marched on Thursday (3) to protest the round-up of stray dogs a day ahead of a visit by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Authorities in Colombo and the Buddhist pilgrim city of Anuradhapura have reportedly deployed dog catchers to impound hounds ahead of Modi's visit, which begins on Friday (4).

Keep ReadingShow less
modi-trump-getty

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi hold a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Explained: Impact of US tariffs on Indian exports

The United States has announced a 27 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods entering the American market.

Industry experts have said these duties will pose challenges for Indian exports, though India's position remains more favourable than some of its competitors.

Keep ReadingShow less