Others with experience and the most sought-after skills can still find new jobs quickly if they are laid off. Even some of those who are on the bench for consulting firms and face being sent back home are taking the twist of fate in their stride. There's my family in India, so I get to be with them. Not only is the work challenging, for many, the lifestyle is seductive. The situation wouldn't be so desperate, laid-off workers say, if they only had a clear idea of their standing.
Different people say different things.
It is very confusing now. INS spokeswoman Eyleen Schmidt says the government is aware of the confusion and is working on proposals to clear it up. There remain grey areas, such as how long after dismissal an H-1B worker can look for a new job. Murali and other critics say this confusion could be avoided if skilled foreign workers were allowed to apply for a work visa directly instead of depending on a corporate sponsor. They argue that even in the best of times tying a work visa, and in many cases a subsequent application for permanent residency, to a particular employer creates the opportunity for exploitation.