As told to

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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rafa Maximo, 38, who lives in Miami and worked at Meta. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Joining Facebook back in 2018 seemed like a major achievement. At the time I resided in Brazil, a place offering limited chances with major firms like that one.

My role involved instructing media agencies and experts across Latin America on leveraging our advertising platforms. Roughly a year later the firm proposed moving me to the United States.

Beyond career advancement I was eager to shift my whole existence for this chance. I departed for Miami during 2019.

Only in November 2022 during Meta's large-scale job reductions did I grasp how tightly my existence depended on the firm as someone on a visa.

Observing widespread job cuts proved terrifying for a visa holder

I arrived in the US via an L-1 visa meant for internal transfers, with my spouse listed as a dependent under L-2 status. Unlike H-1B holders I could not easily change employers without securing fresh visa approval. At the time I did not mind the restriction since I enjoyed the position and saw strong prospects at Meta.

We decided my wife would set aside her professional path to focus on the move, and we welcomed our daughter shortly afterward.

I sensed the burden of holding an L-1 rather than an H-1B while vacationing in Brazil during 2022. News reports indicated Meta planned staff reductions. Losing the role would block simple transfers to other firms and force efforts to adjust my immigration category.

The idea of layoffs had never crossed my mind since nothing comparable had occurred at Meta previously. Colleagues began reaching out via messages to confirm whether the reports were accurate. Once I accepted the reality the situation felt alarming.

I questioned whether I could return to the US if dismissed. How would my rental agreement fare, along with my daughter enrolled in preschool and our cat left with a sitter? Could I at least retrieve my belongings?

I no longer owned a personal laptop or phone since I had abandoned those items upon relocating and relied solely on company equipment. This highlighted how deeply my circumstances were linked to Facebook.

The reductions concerned not merely employment but my overall existence.

I would not recommend tying personal identity to an employer

Soon after learning I escaped the cuts I pursued a self-sponsored green card application to avoid repeating such stress.

I obtained permanent residency in 2025 and now feel more secure and independent. I left Meta in 2024 and currently leverage my residency to operate as a freelance AI marketing and digital growth consultant.

Yet certain matters remain such as renewing the green card prior to gaining citizenship.

In the current employment climate many factors lie beyond individual influence and sudden job loss can occur. My guidance for visa holders in major technology firms is to avoid centering their whole sense of self on their workplace.

Instead develop skills inside the organization that will benefit you afterward. Which abilities will advance your expertise?

We must also safeguard our well-being including mental health physical condition and family ties.

Do you have a story to share about being laid off on a visa? Contact this reporter at ccheong@businessinsider.com