Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Trump White House Clears Plan Ending H-1B Grace Period
The government is considering changing a rule for some foreign workers in the United States.
Right now, H-1B workers who lose their jobs may have up to 60 days to remain in the country.
The proposed change could remove that safety period.
The Department of Homeland Security created the proposal.
A White House review office has cleared it for the next step.
However, the change is not yet a rule.
It must be published and opened for public comments first.
Indian professionals may be especially affected because they received most approved H-1B petitions in fiscal 2024.
The Trump administration moved closer to ending the 60-day grace period for H-1B and certain other foreign workers who lose their jobs.
The proposal cleared review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on Thursday.
The rule has not taken effect and must still be published and undergo public comment.
The Department of Homeland Security prepared the proposal, titled “Eliminating the Discretionary 60-day Grace Period.”
Indian professionals could be especially affected because they accounted for 71 percent of approved H-1B petitions in fiscal 2024.
- Who
- The Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and foreign workers including H-1B professionals.
- What
- A proposal would eliminate the discretionary 60-day grace period available to certain foreign workers after they lose their jobs.
- When
- The proposal was submitted to OIRA on August 6 and cleared White House regulatory review on Thursday; no effective date was given.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- The Department of Homeland Security proposed the change, but the article does not state the administration’s specific reason.
- Proposal title
- “Eliminating the Discretionary 60-day Grace Period”
- Affected workers
- H-1B and certain other foreign workers who lose their jobs
- Current grace period
- Up to 60 days
- Review status
- Cleared White House regulatory review
- Next steps
- Publication and a public-comment process are still required
- Indian share of approved H-1B petitions
- 71 percent in fiscal 2024
- Regulatory identifier
- RIN: 1615-AD22