Mass Layoffs in America Jeopardize Foreign Nationals’ Green Cards

Mass layoffs and USCIS staffing shortages in 2025 cause historic delays for employment-based green cards. Applicants losing jobs face restarts, while persistent backlogs and per-country caps extend waits, notably for India and China. Legal support and employer cooperation are crucial amid this challenging immigration situation.

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Key takeaways

Mass layoffs and USCIS cuts in 2025 cause longest ever green card processing delays.
Employment-based green card holders risk restarting process after job loss due to strict rules.
Over 11.3 million USCIS cases pending; India and China face decades-long green card waits.

(U.S.) Mass layoffs in 2025 are causing major problems for people trying to get a green card through work in the United States 🇺🇸. These layoffs, along with deep staffing cuts at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), are making it much harder for foreign workers to become permanent residents. The delays and confusion are leaving many immigrants and their families worried about their future in the country.

The situation is urgent. As of August 6, 2025, the number of pending immigration cases has reached a record high, and the process for getting a green card is slower than ever. Many people who have spent years working in the United States 🇺🇸 now face the risk of losing their chance at permanent residency because of job losses and government delays. Employers, especially in fields like healthcare and farming, are also struggling to keep the workers they need.

Mass Layoffs in America Jeopardize Foreign Nationals’ Green Cards
Mass Layoffs in America Jeopardize Foreign Nationals’ Green Cards

Why Are Mass Layoffs Hurting Green Card Applicants?

The main reason mass layoffs are causing so much trouble is that the employment-based green card process depends on having a job with a sponsoring employer. If a foreign worker loses their job before certain steps are finished, they often have to start the process all over again. This can mean years of waiting, extra costs, and a lot of stress.

USCIS, the government agency that handles green card applications, is also facing its own staffing crisis. Years of budget problems and job cuts, including those that started under President Trump, have left the agency with too few workers to handle the growing number of cases. According to recent reports, these problems have led to longer wait times, more requests for extra paperwork, and delays at every step of the process.


How the Green Card Process Works—and Where It Breaks Down

To understand why layoffs are such a big problem, it helps to know the basic steps of the employment-based green card process:

  1. PERM Labor Certification:
    The employer must first prove that there are no qualified U.S. workers for the job by going through a process called PERM. This step is specific to the employer and the job. If the worker is laid off before this is approved, the process must start over with a new employer.
  2. I-140 Immigrant Petition:
    After PERM is approved, the employer files Form I-140, which is a petition for the worker to become a permanent resident. If the worker loses their job before or soon after this is approved, they may be able to use special rules called “portability,” but these rules are limited and can be confusing.
  3. Adjustment of Status (Form I-485):
    Once the worker’s “priority date” is current (meaning a green card is available for their country and category), they can file Form I-485 to adjust their status to permanent resident. In December 2024, USCIS started requiring that medical exam Form I-693 be filed at the same time, which adds another step and can cause more delays.
  4. Final Approval and Green Card Issuance:
    After all the paperwork is reviewed and approved, the worker gets their green card. But with USCIS so short-staffed, this final step is taking longer than ever.

What Happens When a Worker Is Laid Off?

Losing a job at any point in this process can be a disaster for a green card applicant. Here’s how it affects each step:

  • 🔹 Before PERM Approval:
    The process must start over with a new employer. All the time and money spent so far is lost.
  • 🔹 After PERM, Before I-140 Approval:
    The worker needs a new employer to file a new PERM and I-140. The old application cannot be transferred.
  • 🔹 After I-140 Approval, Before I-485 Filing:
    If the worker loses their job, they may be able to keep their place in line (priority date) but need a new employer to sponsor them. This is only possible if the I-140 has been approved for at least 180 days and the new job is similar.
  • 🔹 After I-485 Filing:
    If the I-485 has been pending for at least 180 days, the worker may be able to use “portability” rules to switch to a similar job with a new employer. But this is a tricky area, and mistakes can lead to denial.
  • 🔹 After Green Card Approval:
    Once the green card is approved, job loss does not affect status, but getting to this point is now much harder.

USCIS Staffing Crisis and Processing Delays

USCIS is the agency that reviews green card applications, work permits, and other immigration paperwork. In 2025, the agency is facing a severe staffing shortage. This is partly because of mass layoffs in the federal government, including cuts that started under President Trump and continued in later years. More than 200,000 federal jobs have been cut across different agencies, including those that support USCIS.

⚠️ Important
Be cautious about job changes during the green card process. Losing your job can lead to significant delays or restarting the application if not handled correctly, especially before PERM approval.

Because of these cuts, USCIS is taking longer to process all types of immigration cases. As of July 2025, there are over 11.3 million pending cases, the highest number ever recorded. For employment-based green cards, the wait time has grown to about 14.8 months for people applying from outside the United States 🇺🇸 and 8.7 months for those applying from within. This is slower than in 2024, when processing times had started to improve.

The agency is also sending out more requests for evidence (RFEs), which are letters asking for extra documents or proof. This adds even more time and stress to the process. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these delays and extra requests are making it much harder for foreign workers to stay on track with their green card applications.


Backlogs and Per-Country Limits: Why Some Wait Decades

One of the biggest problems for green card applicants is the per-country cap. This rule limits the number of green cards that can go to people from any one country each year. Because so many skilled workers come from countries like India and China, applicants from these countries face wait times that can stretch into decades.

For example, a skilled worker from India 🇮🇳 who started the green card process today might not get their green card for 20 years or more. This is because the number of green cards available for each country is far less than the number of people applying. The backlog keeps growing, and unless Congress changes the law, there is no sign that things will get better.


How Mass Layoffs Make Things Worse

Mass layoffs in American companies, especially in technology, healthcare, and agriculture, are making the green card process even harder. When companies cut jobs, many foreign workers lose their sponsorship. Without a sponsoring employer, the green card process stops. If the worker cannot find a new job quickly, they may have to leave the United States 🇺🇸.

Even if a worker finds a new job, the rules about transferring their green card application are strict. The new job must be very similar to the old one, and the new employer must be willing to go through the paperwork. Many employers are not familiar with the process or are unwilling to take on the extra work.


Real-Life Example: The Story of Priya from India

Priya, a software engineer from India 🇮🇳, has been working in the United States 🇺🇸 for six years on an H-1B visa. Her employer started the green card process in 2022. In 2025, just before her I-140 petition was approved, her company announced mass layoffs. Priya lost her job and her green card process stopped. She had to find a new employer willing to start the process from scratch. Because of the per-country cap, her wait time for a green card is now even longer.

Priya’s story is not unique. Thousands of skilled workers from India 🇮🇳 and China 🇨🇳 are in similar situations. They face years of uncertainty, unable to make long-term plans or feel secure about their future in the United States 🇺🇸.


Employers Also Feel the Impact

It’s not just workers who are affected. Employers who rely on foreign talent are struggling to keep their businesses running smoothly. Hospitals, for example, depend on foreign doctors and nurses to fill critical jobs. When green card processing is delayed, these workers cannot get work permits or permanent status, leading to staff shortages.

Farmers and food producers also rely on foreign workers. Delays in work permits and green cards mean crops can go unpicked, and food production can slow down. Employers are calling on the government to fix the system and speed up processing.


Policy Changes and New Requirements

In December 2024, USCIS released a new version of Form I-485, which is used to apply for adjustment of status (the final step in getting a green card). The new rule requires applicants to submit Form I-693, the medical exam form, at the same time. This change was meant to make the process smoother, but in practice, it has added another step and more chances for delay.

The Visa Bulletin, which is updated every month, tells applicants when they can file for adjustment of status or expect final action on their case. As of August 1, 2025, USCIS is telling applicants to use the Final Action Dates chart to decide when to file. This is important because filing too early or too late can cause problems.

📝 Note
Stay updated with the Visa Bulletin and USCIS announcements. Changes in processing times or requirements can impact your application timeline and eligibility.

Advice for Green Card Applicants Facing Layoffs

If you are in the middle of the green card process and lose your job, it’s important to act quickly:

  • 📋 Talk to an immigration lawyer right away. They can help you understand your options and avoid mistakes.
  • 📋 Check if you qualify for “portability” under AC21. This rule lets some workers switch to a similar job with a new employer if their I-140 has been approved for at least 180 days and their I-485 has been pending for at least 180 days.
  • 📋 Keep all your documents and records up to date. You may need to show proof of your work history, job duties, and other details.
  • 📋 Monitor the Visa Bulletin and USCIS announcements. Rules and dates can change quickly, and staying informed is key.

What Employers Can Do

Employers who want to keep their foreign workers should:

  • 📋 Plan ahead for green card sponsorship. Start the process early and keep in close contact with immigration counsel.
  • 📋 Be clear about job duties and requirements. This helps avoid problems with PERM and I-140 filings.
  • 📋 Support workers through layoffs if possible. If layoffs are unavoidable, provide as much notice as possible and help workers connect with new employers.

Immigration advocacy groups and legal experts are warning that the current system is not working. They say that mass layoffs, budget cuts, and old policies are pushing the U.S. immigration system toward collapse. Millions of immigrants are stuck in limbo, unable to move forward with their lives.

These groups are calling on Congress and the administration to:

  • 📋 Increase funding for USCIS. More staff and better technology could help reduce backlogs and speed up processing.
  • 📋 Change the per-country cap. Allowing more green cards for countries with high demand would help reduce wait times for people from India 🇮🇳 and China 🇨🇳.
  • 📋 Make the process more flexible. Allowing workers to change jobs more easily without losing their place in line would help both workers and employers.

No Major Reforms Yet

As of August 2025, there have been no major changes to the laws that control green card numbers or USCIS funding. Advocacy groups continue to push for reform, but Congress has not passed any new bills. The future of the system remains uncertain.


Step-by-Step: How Mass Layoffs Affect Each Stage

Here’s a closer look at how layoffs can disrupt each step of the green card process:

  • 🔹 PERM Labor Certification:
    • Employer files for a specific job.
    • If the worker is laid off before approval, the process must restart with a new employer.
    • All previous progress is lost.
  • 🔹 I-140 Immigrant Petition:
    • Filed after PERM approval.
    • If the worker is terminated before or soon after approval, portability rules may allow a switch to a new employer, but only if the job is similar and the I-140 has been approved for at least 180 days.
  • 🔹 Adjustment of Status (Form I-485):
    • Filed when the priority date is current.
    • New rules require Form I-693 (medical exam) to be filed at the same time.
    • Processing delays and extra paperwork can cause problems.
  • 🔹 Final Approval and Green Card Issuance:
    • Delays in USCIS staffing slow down this final step.
    • Workers must wait longer for approval and risk falling out of status if their work permit expires.

Practical Tips for Staying on Track

  • 📋 Keep in touch with your employer and immigration lawyer. Good communication can help avoid surprises.
  • 📋 Gather all your paperwork early. Missing documents can cause delays.
  • 📋 Be ready for extra requests from USCIS. Respond quickly to any requests for evidence.
  • 📋 Have a backup plan. If you lose your job, know your options for finding a new sponsor or changing visa categories.

Official Resources

For the most up-to-date information, check the official USCIS Green Card Information page. This site has details on forms, processing times, and important announcements.

You can also check the Visa Bulletin and Adjustment of Status Filing Charts to see when you can file your application.

If you need to check how long your case might take, visit the USCIS Processing Times page.


Forms Mentioned


Looking Ahead: What Might Change?

The future of the employment-based green card process is uncertain. USCIS staffing and funding remain in question, and no major reforms have been passed to fix the per-country cap or speed up processing. Advocacy groups are pushing for change, but it’s not clear when or if Congress will act.

For now, applicants and employers must do their best to work within the current system. Staying informed, acting quickly, and seeking legal help when needed are the best ways to avoid problems.


Conclusion: What Can You Do Now?

Mass layoffs and USCIS delays are making it harder than ever to get a green card through work in the United States 🇺🇸. If you are affected, don’t wait—talk to an immigration lawyer, keep your paperwork in order, and stay up to date with official announcements. Employers should plan ahead and support their workers as much as possible.

While the system is under strain, knowing the rules and acting quickly can help you stay on track. For more detailed analysis and updates, VisaVerge.com reports that staying connected to trusted sources and official government sites is key for anyone hoping to achieve permanent residency in the United States 🇺🇸.

Remember, the green card process is complex, especially during times of mass layoffs and agency delays. But with careful planning and the right support, you can improve your chances of success.

VisaVerge.com
Learn Today

Green Card → Official document granting permanent U.S. residency to eligible immigrants through various categories.
PERM Labor Certification → Employer confirms no qualified U.S. worker to fill a job before sponsoring a foreign worker.
I-140 Immigrant Petition → Form filed by employer to classify a foreign worker for permanent residency based on employment.
Adjustment of Status → Process allowing eligible immigrants inside the U.S. to apply for permanent residency without leaving.
Portability → Rule allowing some workers to change employers after certain approvals without losing green card progress.

This Article in a Nutshell

Mass layoffs and USCIS staff cuts in 2025 severely delay employment-based green card processing. Losing jobs forces applicants to restart complex steps. Backlogs and per-country limits worsen waits, especially for Indian and Chinese workers. Legal advice and employer planning are key to navigating this challenging immigration landscape.
— By VisaVerge.com
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Oliver Mercer
Chief Editor
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As the Chief Editor at VisaVerge.com, Oliver Mercer is instrumental in steering the website's focus on immigration, visa, and travel news. His role encompasses curating and editing content, guiding a team of writers, and ensuring factual accuracy and relevance in every article. Under Oliver's leadership, VisaVerge.com has become a go-to source for clear, comprehensive, and up-to-date information, helping readers navigate the complexities of global immigration and travel with confidence and ease.
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