For many Indians on H1B visas, the dream of a green card comes with a mix of hope and often a frustratingly long wait.
Recently, the journey of an Indian tech professional toward a green card took a difficult turn. Raj’s PERM was filed in September 2023, and while his initial six-year H1B expired in September 2024, his company secured an extension until February 2026 by counting time spent outside the U.S.
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But with his layoff, Raj’s plans are back to square one. He now has just a 60-day grace period to find a new job.
However, the transition isn’t as simple as just signing a new offer letter. To continue his green card process, a new employer would have to restart it from scratch, beginning with a new PERM filing.
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Timing is everything. If his new company doesn’t act quickly, the February 2026 deadline may arrive without a way to extend his H1B further.
The green card process, especially the PERM, can take several months to a year, which puts added pressure on his job search.
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The process isn’t just slow; it’s laden with uncertainty, taking months, sometimes even a year or more.
If his new employer can file the PERM quickly, he may still have a path forward.
U.S. immigration rules state that if a new PERM has been pending for at least 365 days by the time his H1B expires in 2026, he might qualify for one-year H1B extensions.
There’s another hopeful avenue as well. If his new employer’s I-140, the next step after PERM, is approved, he could even become eligible for three-year H1B extensions.
Raj’s journey echoes the uncertainty faced by many Indians on H1B visas, navigating a complex process with resilience and the dream of building a life in the U.S.
One step at a time, Raj and others like him are in a race to secure their future amidst changing tides.
