Laid Off on H-1B: How to Find a Sponsor in 60 Days
Your goal is a new H-1B petition filed before your grace period ends, not approved. With portability, you can usually start work once USCIS receives it. The Labor Condition Application can take up to seven working days, so aim for a signed offer by about day 45.
Every job is from an employer that filed H1Bs in 2025. See which ones fit your resume.
Know your real deadline
The grace period lasts up to 60 days or until your I-94 ends, whichever comes first. It starts the day after your last day of employment. Our grace period guide covers the immigration rules.
Ask HR for your official last day in writing. If you are on paid notice or garden leave, your last day of employment may differ from your last day of work. Confirm which date counts with a lawyer.
DHS proposed ending the grace period on September 11, 2026, with comments due November 10, 2026. It is not final as of October 21, 2026, but check before you rely on 60 days.
Week-by-week timeline
- Week 1: confirm your last day and I-94 date. Gather I-797 approvals, pay stubs, W-2s, degrees and your termination letter. Update your resume.
- Week 1: build a target list of employers that filed change-of-employer petitions recently. Tell your network you need a transfer, not a lottery.
- Weeks 2 to 3: apply every day to roles at those employers. Ask for referrals, which often move faster than cold applications.
- Weeks 4 to 5: interview, and tell each recruiter your filing deadline. Pick a backup plan now, such as H-4, F-1 or B-2.
- Week 6: accept an offer. Ask the employer to start the LCA the same day and to file with premium processing.
- Weeks 7 to 8: the I-129 is filed before your deadline. You start work on the filing date or the requested start date, whichever is later.
- If no petition is on track by about day 50, file your backup change of status before the deadline.
| Employer | H-1B filings | Transfers | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.Com Services LLC | 14,047 | 2,382 | $155k |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions US CorpGC frozen | 10,209 | 872 | $110k |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 9,808 | 269 | $143k |
| Google LLC | 7,899 | 844 | $186k |
| Microsoft CorporationGC frozen | 7,840 | 879 | $173k |
| Tata Consultancy Services LimitedGC frozen | 7,287 | 353 | $86k |
Find employers that file transfers fast
Employers that file many transfers have lawyers and processes ready. They are less likely to stall at the paperwork stage.
Our H-1B sponsors list shows transfer counts on each employer's page. USCIS's H-1B Employer Data Hub also reports change-of-employer approvals by company.
Every job in H-1B jobs by role shows the employer's visa record. Cap-exempt employers such as universities are another fast route; see cap-exempt employers.
Be careful with consulting and contract roles. Read C2C and contract jobs before you sign.
Premium processing and portability
Portability lets you start work when a nonfrivolous petition is filed. You must have been admitted in H-1B status, the petition must be filed before your authorized stay ends, and you must not have worked without permission. See H-1B portability.
Premium processing costs $2,965, and USCIS acts within 15 business days. Action can mean approval, denial or a request for evidence. See premium processing.
A fast decision matters if your grace period runs out while the case is pending. If you switch to B-2 first, portability generally no longer applies. Read H-1B to B-2 before you file one.
What to say to recruiters
- "I'm on H-1B and need a transfer. I've already been counted against the cap, so there's no lottery."
- "My new petition must be filed by [date]. With premium processing, I can start on the filing date."
- "I'm in the US, so a change of employer is generally exempt from the $100,000 payment if USCIS grants it."
- "Required government fees for a transfer are about $3,380 at a larger employer." Our sponsorship cost guide shows the math.
Mistakes to avoid
- Starting work, even unpaid, before the new petition is filed.
- Leaving the US. That ends your grace period, and a new petition would need a visa stamp abroad.
- Letting an offer sit for days before the LCA is filed.
- Paying the employer's fees. The ACWIA fee and lawyer costs for the petition belong to the employer.
If day 60 is close and you have no offer
File a change of status before the deadline if you qualify. Compare H-4 EAD, F-1 and B-2.
Or leave on time. You can still take a new H-1B job later and may be readmitted for the time left on your six years.
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your situation with an immigration attorney.
Questions
Does my new H-1B need to be approved within 60 days?
No. It needs to be filed before your grace period or I-94 ends. Portability then generally lets you start work on filing.
Does an H-1B transfer go through the lottery?
Usually not. If you were counted against the cap in the past six years, a new employer can file without a registration.
Can I interview while in my grace period?
Yes. You stay in H-1B status during the grace period and can job hunt, but you cannot work.
What if my offer comes on day 58?
The LCA can take up to seven working days, so a filing by day 60 may not be possible. Talk to a lawyer about filing a backup change of status first.
Will the $100,000 fee apply to my transfer?
Generally not if you are in the US and USCIS grants the change of employer. As of October 21, 2026, court orders also block collection.
Sources
- 8 CFR 214.1(l): grace period (eCFR)
- 8 CFR 214.2(h)(2)(i)(H): H-1B portability (eCFR)
- Federal Register: Eliminating the Discretionary 60-Day Grace Period (91 FR 57807)
- USCIS: H-1B Employer Data Hub
- USCIS: How Do I Request Premium Processing?
- USCIS: H-1B Specialty Occupations
- USCIS: Presidential Proclamation on Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers
