Oracle Files H-1B Visa Petitions Amid Mass Layoffs

Oracle just filed more than 3,100 H‑1B visa requests even as reports say thousands of staff got “today is your last working day” emails — and the internet lit up. The H‑1B program lets companies hire foreign workers with specialized skills; supporters say it fills gaps, critics say it’s a wage-cutting loophole. With Oracle quiet, commenters took the megaphone. One top take wanted a hard rule: if you lay off more than 2% or 1,000 employees, no visas for 3 years — unless you pay the laid-off people three years’ salary. Others went full scorch-earth, calling H‑1B a “giant scam of labor arbitrage.” Meanwhile, a cooler crowd rolled their eyes, arguing Oracle is huge and many layoffs were abroad — “non-story,” they say. Political spice? A spicy quip claimed “Trump is in Ellison’s pocket,” while policy watchers warned more crackdowns are coming, pointing to that new $100k fee as “just the start.” Memes flew: “pink slips for passports,” “cloud credits for severance,” and a mock job post reading “Must relocate… to the balance sheet.” The only thing everyone agrees on: this is about power, pay, and optics — and until Oracle says more, the comments section is the earnings call. For context, H‑1B is run by USCIS and capped yearly.