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How long is the work visa grace period?

On Behalf of | Oct 28, 2024 | IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION - Immigration

Losing your job as an immigrant can be very frustrating and it may even put you in a precarious position when considering your immigration status. For instance, you may have come to the United States using an H1B visa. You got this visa in exchange for taking a specific job, so your employment is a very important part of the process. The company you work for may have even assisted by sponsoring you and showing that they would hire you if you were granted the visa needed to work in the United States.

If you lose your job, though, this is when your immigration status is in question. You could be deported because you no longer satisfy the conditions of the visa. 

The H1B employment visa

The good news is that there is often a grace period. To continue with the example of the H1B visa, the grace period is 60 days long. So you do have to start looking for a new job relatively quickly after losing the one you have, but you’re not going to be deported immediately after you get fired or laid off. You do still have a chance to find another job that still adheres to the regulations in your employment visa.

Do you have any other options?

If you cannot get another job that works with your current visa, then you may have to consider other options to stay in the United States legally. One may be to apply for a different visa. Another could be to adjust your status. For instance, if you’re now married, you may be able to use your marital status to get a green card.

No matter what you decide to do, because your future in the United States hangs in the balance, it’s important that you know exactly what legal steps to take.