Full text at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1247000/1247465.stm
Thousands of foreign workers in America's high technology sector are set to lose their jobs and as a result, their right to stay in the US, because of the slump in the Internet sector. In the past few years, the US government has given hundreds of thousands of foreigners with high-tech skills H1-B temporary work permits. But if they are laid off, they are not allowed to remain in the US, or begin another job, unless they have another visa application pending.