When losing your job could lead to deportation

For most people, losing a job is a setback, but not something that’s going to change their entire life. They will simply begin looking for another job, knowing that they will eventually find something in a similar industry that they can do. They don’t have to move or leave the country.

However, for immigrants, losing a job can be much more problematic. For instance, say that you came to the United States on an H1-B visa. This is an employer-sponsored visa, and you were given it because of the job that you wanted to take in the United States. These visas are a way for the government to connect corporations with international employees who would benefit those businesses.

As such, if you’re fired from your job, this puts your status in question. You no longer have the job for which you were given the H1-B visa. Are you going to be deported?

There is a grace period

The good news is that you are given a 60-day grace period by the government. You do not have to worry about being asked to leave or even deported the moment you lose your job. You can take the next two months to get another qualifying job and reestablish yourself using the visa that you previously had.

But that certainly doesn’t mean that your situation isn’t going to be very complicated. What if you have a promising job lined up, but you won’t be able to start for more than 60 days? What if you can’t find another job quickly enough and you missed the deadline?

For questions like these and many more, it’s important to take the time to look into all of your legal options.