Laid Off from Microsoft? An EB-5 Visa Could Be Your Family’s Safety Net

On Tuesday, Microsoft confirmed its largest round of job cuts in more than two years—about 6,000 employees, or roughly 3% of its global workforce. Washington State was hit hardest: 1,985 positions linked to the Redmond headquarters were eliminated, many in software engineering and product management roles. Although the company cited only “organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace,” the subtext is clear—Microsoft is reshaping itself around a costly push into artificial intelligence.

For many U.S. citizens, losing a job is stressful enough. For the hundreds of foreign nationals at Microsoft working on H-1B visas, it can be existential. An H-1B holder has just 60 days to find new qualifying employment or leave the United States. One unexpected layoff can upend an entire family’s life plan.

The good news? The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program can turn that cliff-edge deadline into a bridge. Thanks to the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA), laid-off H-1B professionals can invest in a qualifying EB-5 project, file their I-526E petition and an adjustment of status application at the same time (“concurrent filing”), and receive work authorization for themselves and their spouse—often in just a few months.

Why Now Is a Window of Opportunity

The June 2025 Visa Bulletin is still “current” for both Rural and High Unemployment set-aside EB-5 visa categories. That means investors born in all countries can still apply to adjust status inside the United States by doing the following:

1. File Form I-526E (the EB-5 immigrant petition),
2. File Form I-485 (adjustment of status) concurrently,
3. Include Form I-765 (application for an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD) and Form I-131 (advance parole) in the same package.

For a recently laid-off H-1B worker, this concurrent filing structure does three critical things:

• Stops the 60-day H-1B grace period countdown once the I-485 is received by USCIS.
• Provides interim work authorization for the investor, spouse, and unmarried children under 21.
• Allows immediate family members to remain in the United States while the EB-5 petition is adjudicated.

The Power of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

An EAD is a simple plastic card, but it provides:

• Universal work authorization. You can work for any employer—or start your own business—without sponsorship.
• No geographic limitation. Accept a job anywhere in the country.
• Spousal parity. Your spouse receives an EAD too—no more dependence on H-4 employment restrictions.
• Five-year validity. Under current USCIS policy, EB-5–based EADs are issued for up to five years and can be renewed until you receive your green card.
• Advance parole. The associated Form I-131 travel document lets you leave and re-enter the United States without jeopardizing your status.

Real-World Timing: What the Data Show

EB5AN tracks EAD approvals for its investors. Among 100+ recent concurrent filers, 88% received EADs in six months or less, with an average approval time of 4.2 months. The record? Just 20 days from filing to EAD approval.

A Step-by-Step Game Plan for Displaced Microsoft Employees

Day 0–10
Retain qualified immigration counsel experienced in EB-5 concurrent filings. Gather passport, I-94, prior H-1B approvals, pay stubs, and family civil documents.

Day 10–20
Select an EB-5 project and wire the $800,000 investment plus administrative fee into escrow.

Day 20–40
Prepare and file I-526E, I-485, I-765, and I-131 for yourself and each eligible family member. USCIS receipt notices will arrive in 2–3 weeks, pausing your 60-day clock.

Months 3–6
Receive EAD and advance parole. Resume or start new employment anywhere in the U.S.; your spouse may do the same.

Year 1–2
Conditional green card issuance (I-526E approval + green card).

Year 3–4
File I-829 to remove conditions and receive a permanent green card. Capital is returned per project exit schedule.

Peace of Mind in an Uncertain Industry

Artificial intelligence disruption, fluctuating headcounts, and volatile stock prices are now constants in Big Tech. An EB-5 strategy converts that uncertainty into opportunity:

• Freedom to pivot—take a startup role, contract work, or build your own SaaS without employer sponsorship.
• A unified family plan—spouse and children chart their own careers and education paths.
• A glide path to citizenship—after five years as a permanent resident, you may be eligible to naturalize as a U.S. citizen.

Next Steps

If you—or a friend from your former Microsoft team—want to explore whether EB-5 makes sense, schedule a free consultation with EB5AN.

The AI revolution is reshaping tech careers overnight. Don’t let it derail your American dream. With the right EB-5 investment, you can turn a layoff into a launchpad—for yourself and the people who matter most.