A foreign worker in the United States is facing a race against time after he lost his job just three weeks before his visa was due to expire. This led to immediate advice from strangers on Reddit on how the employee could stay in the country.The employee is on an H-1B visa and reported that his employer filed an extension as part of routine processing, but he was informed that he would be fired in the last week of April. His visa is set to expire in the first week of May, a timing that has put him in a dangerous situation.User wrote: “I am in a very troubled situation. My current employer applied for my H1B extension in regular processing. I was waiting for approval until I found out that I was being fired in the last week of April. My current visa expires in the first week of May. “I literally have 3 weeks left in the states.”He also discussed his past experiences with unemployment, saying: “I always have a backup ready but this time I was too tired and didn’t think about it. I’ve been laid off twice before.”The post went viral and other users became familiar with the complexities of US immigration rules, where many employment-based visas are tied directly to the employer. Once employment expires, visa holders often have a limited amount of time to secure new employment, change visa categories, or leave the country.Some commenters stressed the importance of faster processing options in such situations. One user wrote: “This is why I tell everyone, in this economy no matter how secure you think your job is, go for premium processing. Don’t wait for months to get your H1 approved.”He also suggested a possible immediate step: “See if you can still get your application approved through premium processing. This gives you at least 2 months to search for a job and think about options.Others urged employees to first confirm layoff details and explore internal options. “How sure are you that you are being fired, i.e. the source is it from your HR, manager? Is there a way to explain your situation to them and ask about extensions, back home options, etc?” Read a comment.Legal advice was repeatedly recommended, with one user saying: “Consult an immigration attorney for options as soon as possible. A good lawyer will give you the best advice for your situation and you should apply for whatever option you decide on through that lawyer.Practical suggestions also include paying for premium processing individually. “If it is for personal reasons you can pay the approximately $2,800 premium processing fee yourself. You will need to ask your current HR or legal to file the Form I-907 as I believe they will have to sign it.”He added urgency to the advice: “Don’t wait because 15 business days is exactly three weeks, which is exactly all the time you have left. If you file tomorrow, you may have an answer on the way out the door.”Another option raised was to move quickly to secure a new employer willing to transfer the visa, potentially avoiding the need to leave immediately.
