CoronaCrisis : Indians with H-1B visa at risk of losing job

Hyderabad: The Corona virus pandemic has taken a huge toll on the global economy and it may take a while for the markets to recover. The economic backlash due to COVID-19 may put jobs of several Indians working on H-1B visa at risk. If companies decide to reduce manpower, Indians working in the US may find it difficult to stay there. It is being reported that if the Indian and US governments don't help, the situation can get even worse. Mainly, IT companies are under the radar.

Around 3.4 crore people from several countries who are working in America will be affected by the pandemic, it is being reported. As per the rules, people working in the US on H-1B visa can only stay there for 60 days after their visa expires. After that, they will be considered illegal immigrants.

Amid this, H-1B workers are demanding the period of stay be extended to 180 days in order for them to find another job or return to India. Over 80,000 people have also signed a petition regarding the same. The White House, meanwhile, will not consider the petition only after one lakh people sign it. It is estimated that 1 lakh signatures will be collected by Friday.

Many people working in the US on different visas have already lost their jobs. Meanwhile, many who were working in the US on H-1B visa and had come to India for an extension are stuck here. There's also the question of whether they will have a job when they finally manage to get back to America. The American government has indefinitely stopped all Visa processes from India.

Some companies, like IBM, have allowed its employees in India to work from home. Many employees have also asked their companies to transfer them to the Hyderabad branch but no decision has been made regarding that.