Thread regarding Twitter layoffs

H1B worker layoff

I was at a previous company layoff as a H1B. It is scary as one does not get unemployment money and loses the right to stay.
But I am sure Twitter does forget here something:

https://www.olender.pro/immigration/business-immigration/layoffs-downsizing/layoffs

  1. Return Transportation to the Home Country

The employer's return transportation responsibility under 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(E) requires the employer to pay “reasonable” costs of transportation to the H-1B worker’. So if Twitter does not, they need to. My previous company also did not.

  1. More interesting: An employer that fails to notify USCIS of the termination of H-1B employment may face an ongoing duty to pay the H-1B worker full wages after the employment is terminated and until USCIS is notified. It appears possible that an employer could be held liable for months or years of back pay covering a period after the H-1B worker was terminated and until the company notifies USCIS of the termination.

Good luck. I managed to find a new job quickly years ago and to transfer the H1B to another company was quick at that time. But it was very scary. No unemployment, no place to return to and one needs to leave the country. There is no social buffer.

But I am sure, Twitter is messing up here. Please check it and don't get pushed around. Let Elon pay your salary, if he forgets to notice the USCIS!!!

by Anonymous
| 2411 views | | 11 replies (last November 7, 2022) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1jy6orcY
Comment! It's anonymous!

11 replies (most recent on top)

"@1gfa, thanks for sharing. Since you remember that occasion so vividly, I was hoping if you could contribute to the actual topic of this thread.
Do you happen to know if your employer paid the transportation costs to those laid off H1Bs?"

No, they did not pay for transportation in my case as I found another job in the US. But they did not ask about it either. The company I mentioned (not Twitter) applied for green-cards for all employees 6 month before the lay-off was coming. So it worked out. And I am very grateful. But in case of Twitter, this I am sure cannot happen in such a short time.

by Anonymous
| | Reply
Post ID: @2pah+1jy6orcY

@1gfa, thanks for sharing. Since you remember that occasion so vividly, I was hoping if you could contribute to the actual topic of this thread.
Do you happen to know if your employer paid the transportation costs to those laid off H1Bs?

by Anonymous
| | Reply
Post ID: @2kxn+1jy6orcY

I worked at a tech company with some H1Bs. One manager with an H1B working for them who was slated for layoff said "we can't let them go, they are on an H1B and will have to leave the country if they can't find another job". I said "No, they are here to fill a spot that couldn't be filled by a US citizen and that isn't the case now". We let them go.

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @1gfa+1jy6orcY

I am the orignal poster. This was about what people need to be careful of. Since when I previously was lay-off, I was not made aware of the following
When one gets the "package", companies ignore, what they need to do by law in case of an employee with a H1B visa
Inform USCIS about the Visa status change + provide financial support to leave the country.

P.S. I do not work at Twitter. Have a lovely weekend to all the posters giving nice advice.

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @1fpf+1jy6orcY

What skills do you provide that a local developer is not able to?

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @mos+1jy6orcY

'no social buffer'

Whether you are H1B or US worker, I would not recommend you rely on any 'social buffer'. Only rely on yourself. These means that you should save some money when times are good an you have high paying job. Save up at least 9 months of 'emergency reserves'. If and when something bad happens, you can rely on yourself, not some 'social buffer'.

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @fct+1jy6orcY

Good luck. Sounds like you've been on H1 for a while; did you get Green Card processing started?

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @edi+1jy6orcY

Take it as a lesson learned. I have been in the tech industry 25 years I have many coworkers on H1-B visas. At previous companies when there are rumors of layoffs most of the H1-B people start looking for jobs and start leaving within a few months or even weeks. They pick up everything and move from east coast to west coast or vice versa. Families uprooted, selling houses, it doesn't matter. I certainly feel bad for them but that is the current reality. They don't sit around hoping that they won't get laid off, they take control of their lives and move to a more stable job.

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @ljq+1jy6orcY

It’s a risk you were taking working for Twitter. The writing was on the wall since acquisition began. There are many more solid companies in the area you could’ve tried to transfer to.

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @lhw+1jy6orcY

Its not that hard
H1s have 60days from the last paycheck you received -includes severance
So that kind of drags to 90 or 120days
More than enought to find a job.

by Anonymous
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Post ID: @uti+1jy6orcY

While I recognize your situation sucks, you had to understand the risks of employment in a foreign country. Good luck ...I hope you land on your feet swiftly.

by Anonymous
| | Reply
Post ID: @rul+1jy6orcY

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