Anecdata : 20+ yrs ago I worked in US on a H1B. My employer was almost bust due to the telecoms bubble bursting and I got laid off. Got 3 weeks severance pay for 1 yr service - seemed fair at the time given the situation , and dunno what people got when whole company collapsed few weeks later. Was assuming would get kicked out of the country in fairly short time if didn't find a new job. 60 days? Seem to think it used to be shorter than that. So, went to a job fair, did a few interviews. Decided to go and at least see Yellowstone before being kicked outta the country. Went to check email at the library (as one did before smartphones ;) ) There was a job offer, better location and better pay and it ultimately turned out far more enjoyable. Had to drive non-stop all the way back to Seattle to sign paperwork. Then , it was actually a 3 month wait before I could start that new job due to the H1B transfer process being slow, which is kind of ridiculous. Couldn't go back to family in UK for xmas the year as not allowed in and out of country while they doing the paperwork, which was a downer. Wasn't getting paid during that time either. Did volunteer at Snoqualmie pass and went on the hill lots of days which was the silver lining. I have to say, this would be really bad if you have a spouse and kids. I was single at the time, wouldn't wanna put family through that. It also led to a feeling of limbo and ultimately I left the USA because what starts out as a fun adventure ends up after a few years being not so fun anymore having no permanent status. I think that once someone has worked and paid taxes in the US one ought to be treated a little bit kinder. Perhaps the longer you've worked, the longer you should be allowed to stay after being laid off? They should make allowances for people with kids for sure, its wrong to treat kids lie that, must cause a lot of stress for families.
Especially when you consider that because of natal citizenship, you could have come over with a young wife, had a kid, and then been laid off - and your kid is a US citizen!
Hadn't thought of that! That's a massive issue. Arguably the parents should be allowed permanent status then but of course then people will claim there's an incentive for people to come to US and have kid(s). But in a sense, if you've let people in on a highly skilled visa, they're at the age of having a family, they're pretty much guaranteed to be a big net positive for US economy so what's the problem giving them permanent residency... But then one could argue it's unfair not to give the same thing to kids of Mexican parents that entered illegally. But if you did that , that really would be an incentive for half of Mexico to try to come to USA and have a kid. Personally I think that might be a net win for both USA and Mexico, and there's plenty of space in USA, but I guess a lot of Americans would disagree...
