Here’s Why Tech Giants Google, Microsoft, Meta Are Hiring H-1B Visa Workers After Layoffs

A recent report stated that tech giants Google, Microsoft and Meta have been hiring on H-1B visa. H-1B visa allows employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant basis.

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Here’s Why Tech Giants Google, Microsoft, Meta Are Hiring H-1B Visa Workers After Layoffs

In recent months, the tech industry has been at the forefront of massive layoffs, led by tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google. However, recent news suggests that in the wake of these layoffs, tech giants are back on a hiring spree - but for H-1B workers. H-1B workers are non-immigrant workers temporarily employed by US-based organizations for specialty roles.

Independent journalist Lee Hang published a report on May 16, analyzing the most recent data disclosed by the US Department of Labor. As per his findings, firms that just underwent massive layoffs this year requested thousands of H1-B foreign worker visas. These firms include Facebook/Meta, Amazon, Zoom, Salesforce, Microsoft, etc.

Firms may request H-1B visa extensions for existing foreign employees on their payroll as well as new employees. Hang’s report states that among the visa applications filed by Google and Google-owned self-driving car company Waymo, many were for new employees.

Earlier, in March 2023, the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) also analyzed data from USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub and found that Amazon, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services were the biggest benefactors of the H-1B visa in the US.

What exactly is the H-1B visa?

The H-1B program allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant basis. The H-1B program states that the hiring is for specialty occupations.

Currently, the US has a cap on the annual number of foreign workers who may be provided with H-1B status. The limit is 65,000, with an additional 20,000 under the H-1B advanced degree exemption.

The US Immigration Department announced in March this year that the H-1B visa cap for the financial year 2024, beginning October 1, had already been met.

Working on a H-1B visa

The maximum duration available under the H-1B visa is six years. Initially, workers on H-1B visa are expected to stay for a period of three years, with extensions available for up to three years thereafter.

However, if the visa holder remains outside of the US for 12 consecutive months (one year), the six-year clock "restarts".

Organizations sponsor foreign workers by applying for H-1B visa on their behalf. While these workers may be valued for their technical skills, historically, H-1B visa has also been employed by US firms to hire foreign workers to perform specialized jobs at a lower salary.

In fact, as per a 2021 report by the Economy Policy Institute, skilled migrants with H-1B visas working as subcontractors were underpaid by at least $95 million.

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