No one wants to get fired. But it happens. It may not be your fault at all. It could be the result of the business just downsizing or going through a recession.
But if you’re an immigrant, and you’re here on a work visa, you may be especially worried about losing your job. Not only do you lose the income, but are you going to lose your work visa as well? Would you have to leave the United States simply because the company downsized?
There is a grace period
It is possible that you will eventually have to leave the United States because you lost your job. After all, your visa was granted on the grounds that you were going to take gainful employment. If you’re not doing that, then you can’t stay on a work visa. You may be able to apply for a different type of visa or adjust your status in another way, but something has to change.
That said, this doesn’t happen right away. There is generally a grace period of 60 days. You simply look at the last day on payroll, and then you get 60 days from that point. This is to allow you to consider your other options and to look for a different form of employment. So don’t worry about being immediately deported just because you lost your job.
Considering your legal options
Working in a foreign country can be very complicated, and there’s a lot at stake. Be sure you always know about your legal rights and the various options that you have at your disposal.