Oracle filed thousands of H-1B visa requests before mass layoffs? Report claims

Just days after Oracle terminated 16,000 corporate employees via a 6:00 am email, the software giant is facing intense online backlash over its hiring practices. A New York Post report, citing US Citizenship and Immigration Services data, said that the company filed approximately 3,126 H-1B visa petitions for foreign workers during fiscal years 2025 and 2026.A view of the US-based IT firm Oracle building, in Bengaluru, (PTI)According to the US Department of Labor, “The H-1B program applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of dinguished merit and ability.” Simply put, under the law, employers in America must submit paperwork while seeking to hire employees from foreign nations.Also Read: Oracle employee laid off after 34 years says layoffs may be driven algorithm: ‘Quite a shock’The Post reported that 436 petitions were filed this year alone, among roughly 3,126 submitted in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.Social media is outraged:The report on H-1B visas has sparked widespread outrage on social media.An individual posted, “Maybe it is time to ban all products from companies that have laid off US workers and replaced them with H1B visa workers or outsourcing all labour overseas. As we observe the finances of CEOs swell over several billion, it is time to reevaluate our investments.”Another added, “This is sickening. No loyalty to the workers who helped build that company. I hope they get exactly what they paid for.” A third commented, “The workers getting laid off have names and dreams. The ones being brought in do too. The only one without a face in this story is Oracle’s bottom line — and that’s exactly who’s making the decisions.”A fourth wrote, “These treasonous CEO’s will keep doing this until they are arrested and their bank accounts and stock holdings are wiped clean to zero. That’s how you fix that problem.”Oracle’s full layoff email:“We are sharing some difficult news regarding your position. After careful consideration of Oracle’s current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organizational change. As a result, today is your last working day. We are grateful for your dedication, hard work, and the impact you have made during your time with us. After signing your termination paperwork, you will be eligible to receive a severance package subject to the terms and conditions of the severance plan. You will receive an email from DocuSign to your Oracle email address with details on your severance and termination date.”Also Read: Pregnant Oracle employee laid off in 6 am email: ‘No call. No meeting. No manager. No warning’It continued, “Immediate Action Required To receive important follow-up information, including FAQs and separation documents to help you through this transition, you must provide a personal email address. Please click here to submit a personal email address immediately. If you make a submission error, please re-submit a new form. Please Note: The personal email address will only be used for correspondence regarding separation-related information and severance agreements. Access to your computer, email, voicemail, and files will be deactivated soon, and you will be unable to log into your computer. As a reminder, you are prohibited from downloading, copying or retaining (including emailing yourself) any Oracle confidential information.”It added, “Thank you for your contributions to our organization. If you have additional questions, please reach out to the HR team via the Ask HR page or at (888) 404-2494. Oracle Leadership.”