H-1B workers face major setback as Trump proposes ending 60-day grace period: What to know

The Trump administration has proposed eliminating a two-month grace period-a provision that allows certain immigrants including skilled workers on H-1B visas to stay in the United States and secure new corporate sponsors, according to a government notice released Thursday.

A notice published in the Federal Register by the US Department of Homeland Security stated that H-1B and other short-term employment visas are expected to leave the country as soon as their employment ends.

The recent step by Trump is to manage migration since returning to office in January 2025. The Trump administration has also introduced higher visa fees for skilled workers and temporarily rescheduled interviews at US missions around the world while it rolls out a new training program.

The DHS proposal further showed that while available jobs could go to American workers but in some situations immigrant workers are still eligible to return through employer-sponsored visa petitions.

The 60-day grace period from 2017 allows foreign foreign workers to find another US job: selling a home or putting children out of school before leaving the country.

What to know about H-1B visas

H-1B visas established by Congress in 1990 are critical for tech companies seeking for talent from China to fill roles where there is a shortage of qualified US workers.

If implemented, the change would apply to E-1 international trader visa holders, E-2 commercial vehicle visa holders, and O-1 visas for people with exceptional ability in the sciences, sports, and arts.

Furthermore, the proposed change could affect the H-1B1 skilled worker visa holders from Singapore and Chile as well as E-3 worker visa holders from Australia.