In an exclusive interview with Rediff, immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta argues that the U.S. suspension of PERM filings for eight technology majors will hurt individual foreign workers more than the companies themselves. While firms can pivot to domestic hires or shift work offshore, employees stuck in the H-1B-to-green-card pipeline may find themselves approaching maximum stay limits without a path to permanent residence. Mehta notes that many mid-career tech professionals timed home purchases and children’s schooling around expected I-140 approvals. A lengthy audit process could upend those plans, leading to what he calls “immigration-induced attrition” as talent seeks opportunities in Canada or the UK. Companies could mitigate the fallout by moving affected staff onto L-1B or O-1 visas, but those categories have stricter requirements and shorter validity, adding administrative overhead. The PERM audit backlog at the Department of Labor already averages 389 days; with eight large employers funneled into supervised recruitment, wait times could stretch beyond 18 months. Mehta advises workers to document accomplishments for possible O-1 petitions and to consider family impacts of fallback options, such as long-term remote roles in home countries. He also urges employers to increase transparency, noting that surprise layoffs combined with visa uncertainty can expose firms to retaliation claims or negative Glassdoor reviews. For global mobility managers, the interview underscores the importance of diversified visa strategies and proactive employee communication in an era of politicized immigration policy.
Source: Rediff
