H-1B Indian Engineer Loses AI Job After 6 Years At Fortune 500 Firm

The engineer, who spent six years in the U.S. earning a master's degree and working, was told his entire project would be moved to the company's India office. He had been with the firm for several years before the decision was made.

The offshoring move is part of a broader trend among U.S. corporations to relocate technology roles to lower-cost regions. For H-1B visa holders, losing a job triggers a 60-day grace period to find new employment or leave the country.

The engineer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he is now updating his resume and reaching out to recruiters, but the tight job market for AI specialists has made the search challenging. He is also preparing for the possibility of returning to India, where he would need to restart his career.

Immigration attorneys note that H-1B workers face unique hurdles when laid off, including the difficulty of transferring visas to a new employer and the limited time to secure a new position. The situation has renewed calls for immigration reform to provide more stability for skilled workers.