Imagine you’ve worked really hard to win a special prize that lets you stay and work in the U.S.—that’s what an H1B visa is like. After waiting and hoping for years, this person finally got selected for the H1B, which is like their golden ticket to a better, more stable future.
But now, just as the visa is about to be approved, their employer has told them that they might be laid off soon. It’s a scary and confusing situation, because their job and visa are both at risk.
Also Read – US Elections: Did Modi Foresee Trump’s Defeat?
On top of that, they have a second job offer, but it comes with a catch. The new company only wants to hire them under a different visa, called OPT, and is asking them to cancel the H1B process. The big question is: should they take the new job now, or stick with the H1B visa and face the uncertainty of unemployment?
It’s a tough decision, because the OPT visa allows them to work immediately, but it’s not as secure as the H1B, which could provide long-term stability.
Also Read – Trump’s Shocking Decision After US Elections
For one young professional in the United States, a life-altering decision has to be made: lose a hard-earned H1B visa or take up a new job that cannot sponsor it. The stakes are high. After years of work and countless visa applications on end with endless anxiety, they finally got selected for an H1-B. Now, their employer is warning them about layoffs just weeks in advance of the visa’s approval and putting them out of a decision.
The company will continue to keep them on unpaid leave until the H1-B is processed but after that, it is not guaranteed if they will continue to hire. The other offer came up recently, but that employer only works with the OPT visa, asking to withdraw the petition for H1B completely.
Also Read – Educated US Immigrant: Where Do Indians Stand?
“I know how fortunate I am to have been selected through the H1-B,” they say. “People try for years hoping. But the job market is terrible right now, and I’m not sure I can afford to be unemployed.”
Immigration experts also advise against giving up the H1-B. Chances of winning the visa lottery have fallen as low as 30% and future attempts are never guaranteed. A company unwilling to spend a few thousand dollars on sponsorship fees now may not be willing to invest later.
Important choices like this make the professional contemplate, “Is it with tto risk giving up my H1-B or will I regret it for the rest of my life?
You May Like This
You May Like This
