Many immigrants enter the United States because they have family members or romantic partners in the country. Others use their careers as a means to lawfully enter and live in the United States.
There are numerous work visa programs that allow professionals ranging from physicians to managers with insider information about a company to relocate to the United States for employment purposes. Professionals with work visas are often eligible to renew their visas at least once. They may qualify for a green card if they avoid any complications, such as criminal charges, while living in the United States.
What happens when an immigrant with a work visa suddenly loses their job?
There may be options available
Most immigrants who qualify for work visas have skills and educations that domestic companies find valuable. They can frequently seek alternate employment with another company that can offer them similar work.
Most employment visas allow for a 60-day grace period after a sudden termination. If workers find new jobs within that time, they can remain in the United States and secure a visa related to their new job.
While there have been efforts to change that rule, most workers with employment visas currently have roughly two months after losing a job to find a new position elsewhere and secure a replacement visa. There may be other options as well, depending on how long the immigrant has been in the United States and other important details.
Seeking help as soon as possible after a job loss endangers an immigrant’s legal status is of the utmost importance. Those who act promptly can often continue their lawful presence in the United States instead of immediately needing to return to their countries of origin.