I know a lot of very good professionals, way better than regular greencard or citizens people that were laidoff.
It means, if they do not find another position by March 10th, they will need to return to their original countries.
I just want to inform you the following: If you hold a L1, you were laidoff I hope Google did not ask you to sign your resignation from your original country because if they do, then it is a legal issue. L1 is not a work visa, it is a transfer visa which mean you still need to hold your position on your original country but you have option to receive your paychecks and pay your taxes in USA or in your country.
Laying off people with L1, google still need to offers your original position in your country.
It is the law and Google does not seem to be very google following that.
If HR tell you "it is a different company here and there", tell them.... "my email is the same, I work on products and services that serves both countries, so it is the same group".
I sued on the past and I won. Good lucky and do not forget. You are just a number and they do not care if you have family, leasing, etc.
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The last post is correct. I sued and I won.
Can you point me to the law which says a laid off L-1 worker has to get his original job
back?
There's no such law. I'll give you my insights, FWIW, but you and anyone else in this L1B visa situation should really hire a US immigration attorney.
The only "angle" that you have to fight the layoff is that you are actually not employed in the USA, so you can't be laid off here. Under the L1 visa program, you are a non-immigrant working for the company in your HOME COUNTRY and temporarily assigned to work in the US office of your multi-national company (in this case Alphabet/Google). You are receiving a paycheck in the US purely as a matter of convenience, since you are temporarily living here. Temporary means 5 years max, although there are some ways to extend or convert you to H1B. Bottom line is that Google cannot lay you off in the USA, they can lay you off in your home country. What does that benefit you? If your home country has better labor laws that the US then you'd want to be laid off there. For instance, in Mexico you get at least a year's severance if laid off. Germany and France even better. India? I have no idea. But if this is a route that you want to take, then get a labour law attorney in your home country asap.
As for the other question that most people have - how can I stay in the USA if laid off from my sponsoring company? The answer is that you have a 60 day grace period in which to find another job. There's some wiggle room in there, but again your best bet is to get an immigration attorney. By the way, after Google lays you off, you CAN NOT get unemployment benefits in USA (even if you paid into it) and if you have a wife with you on an L2 visa, she can't legally work anymore. Is one of the many reasons why I consider the L1 visa program to be a complete swindle for everyone except the "sponsoring company," aka slavemaster. But that's a whole other rant, leave it be.
Good luck and get an attorney!
Can you point me to the law which says a laid off L-1 worker has to get his original job back?
Yes, people need to realize to have an L1 visa, you should NOT sign your resignation before you move to the USA because, by law (immigration law), the company needs to "maintain the ties". After all, it is an intra-company visa, and not a work visa, so you can NOT resign from the job you have in your home country until you get your H1B.
Also, an H1B visa can ask for tickets to go back home while an L1 cannot, EXCEPT if the original office decides to pay for it.
If you are having problems with your L1, you can look for an attorney.
Switch to F1 ->> OPT ->> H1B ->> free GC. It works for most of the people.