Why a self-petition is the ultimate layoff insurance

Here is the uncomfortable truth about employer-tied status: someone else controls it. EB-1A and NIW are green card paths you own, because they do not require an employer or a job offer. People who started an NIW while employed had a very different layoff experience than those starting from zero at day one of the grace period. Building it early is a hedge, not a luxury. Is a self-petition part of your backup plan?