“We are jointly writing to you with reference to the recent mass layoffs in the tech arena which have required many foreign-national parents of US-born children to relocate with their families back to their countries of origin after the two-month grace period offered to them on their H1B work visas.”
— American Jewish Committee
The US-based American Jewish Committee (AJC) has asked the US Immigration authorities to be considerate towards the laid-off Indian skilled professionals in the US and increase their two-month grace period to one year, reported The Indian Express.
AJC, in coordination with an Indian diaspora outfit, has written a letter to the US Citizenship, and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director. It says, “We are jointly writing to you with reference to the recent mass layoffs in the tech arena which have required many foreign-national parents of US-born children to relocate with their families back to their countries of origin after the two-month grace period offered to them on their H1B work visas.”
When contacted, Isaacson told The Indian Express over telephone from Washington DC, “The notion that someone who travels thousands of miles to work in the American hi-tech sector and contributes significantly to the success of that sector, might lose a job and have a very short time to get a new position in order to retain visa status is cruel and imposes a terrible burden.”
Jason F Isaacson, who wrote the letter, is the Chief Policy & Political Affairs Officer of the AJC.
He wrote, “It is our view that this very limited grace period both imposes an undue hardship on highly skilled and motivated workers who must quickly obtain alternative qualifying employment to retain their status, and potentially denies US industry ready access to workers who have made, and would continue to make, significant contributions to our economy and toward helping our country maintain cutting edge technological leadership. It is our understanding that a majority of these workers are from India, a close strategic partner of both the United States and Israel.”
American Jewish Committee (AJC) is one of the most influential groups in the US, and has lobbied for Indian interests in the past, most notable being the advocacy for the Indo-US nuclear deal between 2005 and 2008. It had also recently lobbied for the speedy confirmation of US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti at the US Senate.
“We humbly request that USCIS act to extend the grace period in such circumstances from two months to one year, to allow these displaced workers enough time to seek other opportunities. Experience suggests that many of these workers are likely to become productive US citizens and strengthen our economy – perhaps following the lead of such success stories as Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, or Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google,” Isaacson wrote, along with Khanderao Kand who heads the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies.
When contacted, Isaacson told The Indian Express over telephone from Washington DC, “The notion that someone who travels thousands of miles to work in the American hi-tech sector and contributes significantly to the success of that sector, might lose a job and have a very short time to get a new position in order to retain visa status is cruel and imposes a terrible burden.”
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