You’re Laid Off. Now What?—How EB-5 Can Help You Preserve Your Life in the U.S.

The U.S. technology sector has experienced one of its largest workforce reductions since the pandemic. According to some sources, over 100,000 employees across more than 400 companies have been impacted so far this year.

The list reads like a who’s who of major employers: Amazon eliminated 14,000 corporate roles, Microsoft announced 9,100 additional layoffs in its second major reduction of the year, IBM laid off 8,000 workers, Salesforce cut 4,000 customer service jobs in September, Autodesk reduced its workforce by 1,350, and Meta released 600 employees.

Each announcement underscores the same reality—major companies are restructuring their workforces to adapt to artificial intelligence, automation, and new business models.

For most American workers, a layoff represents financial uncertainty. Foreign nationals working in the United States on H-1B visas face the same uncertainty—and much more. Once terminated, an H-1B worker has just 60 days to secure new qualifying employment or leave the country.

One unexpected layoff can abruptly upend years of hard work and planning, forcing families to decide between uprooting their lives or finding a legal path to remain in the U.S.

The good news is that there is a solution. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program can turn that 60-day deadline into a long-term opportunity.

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How EB-5 Can Help You Preserve Your Life in the U.S.

Why Now Is a Window of Opportunity

Under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA), eligible investors can now file both their EB-5 immigrant petition (Form I-526E) and the adjustment of status application (Form I-485) at the same time. This process, known as concurrent filing, provides a critical advantage for laid-off H-1B professionals: It pauses the 60-day grace period and allows families to remain lawfully in the United States while their EB-5 petition is being reviewed.

As of the November 2025 Visa Bulletin, both the rural and high-unemployment EB-5 visa categories remain current. This means investors born in all countries who choose a targeted employment area (TEA) project can still file concurrently and receive interim benefits.

Additionally, by including Form I-765 (the employment authorization document application) and Form I-131 (advance parole) in the same package, investors can secure legal work authorization and travel permission while waiting for their Green Card adjudication.

For many former H-1B holders, this structure transforms an urgent deadline into a window of stability. Once the application package is filed and received by USCIS, the 60-day clock stops, allowing the investor and their family members to remain in the country legally.

The Power of the Employment Authorization Document

The employment authorization document, or EAD, is often the most immediate and meaningful benefit of concurrent filing.

With an EAD, an investor can work for any employer in the United States without sponsorship, start their own business, or even transition into a completely new industry. The document also grants the investor’s spouse the same unrestricted work authorization.

Under current USCIS policy, EB-5-based EADs are issued for up to five years and can be renewed until the investor receives a Green Card. The associated advance parole document permits international travel and reentry without jeopardizing one’s immigration status.

In practice, most EB5AN investors receive their EADs within 90 days of filing—sometimes much sooner—allowing them to resume employment and rebuild financial stability long before their Green Card is approved.

A Step-by-Step Game Plan for Laid-Off Tech Professionals

For those considering EB-5 after a layoff, the process can move quickly—so it’s important to get started right away.

Day 0–10

Retain qualified immigration counsel with experience in EB-5 concurrent filings. You should specifically look for an immigration attorney who specializes in EB-5 and has experience working with your country of origin.

You should also gather your passport, I-94, prior H-1B approvals, pay stubs, and family civil documents.

Day 10–50

Select an EB-5 project and transfer the $800,000 investment plus the administrative fee into escrow.

When researching projects, make sure to find one that is financially viable and aligns with all EB-5 program requirements, particularly those around the use of funds and job creation.

Day 10–60

Prepare your source of funds documentation and file Forms I-526E, I-485, I-765, and I-131 for yourself and each eligible family member.

Gathering your source of funds can be one of the most time-consuming steps, and rushing this part of the process can easily lead to requests for evidence or even notices of intent to deny. Make sure to be thorough to avoid any unnecessary delays or setbacks.

Month 3–6

Receive your EAD and advance parole. With these documents in hand, you may begin or resume employment anywhere in the United States, and your spouse may do the same.

Year 1–2

Receive your conditional green card issuance (upon I-526E approval).

Depending on the type of project you invest in, this step can come sooner: Rural TEA projects receive priority processing, meaning USCIS approves rural investors’ petitions much faster than the average for urban or non-TEA projects, making this route the quickest to a U.S. Green Card.

Year 3–4

Within 90 days of the expiration of your conditional residency, file Form I-829 to remove conditions and receive a permanent green card.

Your investment capital is returned according to the project’s exit schedule.

Peace of Mind in a Volatile Industry

As automation and AI continue to reshape industries, traditional employment paths have become less stable. The EB-5 program offers an alternative—a way to control your own future rather than relying on the next round of corporate restructuring.

By pursuing EB-5, laid-off professionals gain the freedom to choose where and how they work, the flexibility to support their spouse’s career and their children’s education, and a clear, lawful path to long-term residency and eventual U.S. citizenship.

For many displaced H-1B holders, the EB-5 program transforms uncertainty into opportunity. It replaces the anxiety of a ticking grace-period clock with the confidence of legal work authorization and the promise of permanent residency.

Next Steps

The wave of layoffs that has defined 2025 does not have to define your future. With an EB-5 investment, you can transform a setback into a new beginning for yourself and your family—one built on stability, opportunity, and long-term security in the United States.

If you have been affected by recent layoffs—or know someone who has—EB5AN can help you evaluate whether the EB-5 program is a fit for your situation.

EB5AN has helped more than 2,700 families from 70+ countries become lawful permanent residents of the United States. Our expert team has more than a decade of experience, and we offer our clients first-rate, low-risk EB-5 regional center projects with a 100% USCIS project approval rate.

Schedule a free consultation with EB5AN to learn about your eligibility, timing, and investment options.