Amazon Cuts 14,000 Jobs : Legal Risks and Action Plan for OPT and H-1B Visa Holders

On October 28, Amazon officially began laying off 14,000 corporate and tech workers, affecting nearly 4% of its white-collar workforce. Insider reports suggest this is just Round 1 of a broader reduction, potentially impacting up to 30,000 roles.

Affected departments include:

• Advertising
• Prime Video
• Alexa
• Pharmacy
• Gaming
• AWS infrastructure

This Isn’t Just Amazon — It’s a Systemic Shift Across Tech

Amazon is far from alone. The entire tech industry is entering an AI-led transformation:

• 61,000+ tech jobs have already been cut in 2025 (source: Layoffs.fyi).
• Microsoft laid off ~9,000 employees.
• Meta and Google have each executed large-scale layoffs, focusing resources on AI and automation.

If You’re on OPT or STEM OPT, Here’s What It Means

OPT: Act Fast or Risk Falling Out of Status

• You have 90 days of unemployment in total under regular OPT.
• The job must be directly related to your degree field.

• Don’t wait for severance to kick in—start job hunting now.
• Consider short-term or contract roles that meet OPT criteria.
• Stay in close contact with your school’s international office.
  
  

STEM OPT: You Need a STEM-Eligible, E-Verify Employer—Fast

• You get up to 150 days of unemployment across your OPT + STEM extension.
• Your new employer must:
  • Be enrolled in E-Verify
  • Offer a job related to your STEM degree
  • Agree to sign and maintain a valid Form I-983

Tips:

• Don’t assume big companies = job security. Amazon, Meta, and others are actively restructuring.
• Focus on roles in AI, cloud, data security, and other growth areas.
• Look for companies with a track record of visa and green card sponsorship.

H-1B Visa Holders Face 3 Legal and Procedural Flashpoints

The 60-Day Grace Period Is No Longer Reliable:

Traditionally, H-1B holders have a 60-day grace period after termination to transfer to another employer or change status. But in recent months:

• USCIS quietly removed grace period language from guidance pages.
• Some H-1B holders received NTA (Notice to Appear) even while their I-539 change of status applications were pending.
• USCIS has not officially changed the policy—but in practice, it’s showing a harsher stance.

Example: Several H-1B holders submitted I-539 to switch to B-2 during the 60-day period and were still issued NTA documents within weeks.

I-539 Change of Status Applications Carry Higher Risk:

Applying for a change of status via I-539 (e.g., H-1B to B-2 or F-1) used to be a safety net. Not anymore.

• Recent applicants report increased NOIDs (Notices of Intent to Deny), especially when switching to F-1 without strong academic intent.
• USCIS is now less tolerant of “I want to stay longer to job hunt” as a valid reason to switch to B-2.
• I-539 denials are increasingly being followed by removal proceedings (NTA issuance).

Filing I-539 might not just fail—it could escalate into a deportation process.

Government Shutdown Halts H-1B Transfers at the Source

Because of the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown, the Department of Labor (DOL) is not issuing LCA (Labor Condition Application) approvals—a critical first step in any H-1B transfer.

• Even if you get an offer, your new employer can’t file a proper H-1B transfer without a certified LCA.
• Some have attempted to file I-129 first and submit LCA later when DOL reopens, but:
  • This is legally shaky.
  • USCIS has not guaranteed flexibility on this.
  • It’s a gamble in an already unfriendly adjudication environment.

Even if you have a new job lined up, the paperwork bottleneck may delay or derail your transfer.

The Hidden Risk to PERM Green Card Process

If your employer is sponsoring your green card, a layoff could cause total collapse of your immigration timeline—especially during the early phases.

What Happens in Each Stage:

Strategic Insights: What You Should Be Doing Now

In a world where AI is replacing traditional roles and companies are reorganizing aggressively, here’s how you can prepare:

1. Audit Your Role

Is your job:

• In a department seeing cuts (HR, internal tools, mid-level ops)?
• Replaceable via AI or automation?

If so, begin researching alternative employers.

2. Identify Growth Sectors

Focus on:

• AI/machine learning integration
• Cloud infrastructure
• Data privacy and governance
• Robotics or supply chain automation

These are areas most companies are still hiring in—and investing in.

3. Document Everything

• Track unemployment days.
• Keep I-983 copies updated (for STEM OPT).
• Save pay stubs and employment letters.
• Know your I-94 expiration (for H1B).

4. Consult Immigration Counsel Early

• Especially if you’re at risk of layoff or your PERM/I-140 is in motion.
• Know whether you qualify for H-1B transfer, F1 - CPT, or even O-1 self-petition.

Final Thought: This Is Not Just a Layoff—It’s a Rewriting of the Rules

Amazon’s layoffs—and those across Microsoft, Google, and Meta—are not cost-cutting blips. They’re part of a structural shift toward automation, lean orgs, and fewer human-based roles.

If you are on OPT or H-1B, your visa is only as stable as your employer’s org chart and immigration policies. That means:

• Be proactive, not reactive.
• Know your status and timelines.
• Identify jobs aligned with the AI-driven future.
• Have immigration-safe exit strategies ready.