Getting fired is a significant setback for any worker. They lose their source of income and stability. Even if the worker doesn’t think that they’ve made any mistakes – maybe the company was just downsizing and didn’t have any choice but to let them go – it can have an impact on their confidence and options while moving forward with their career.
But if you’re an immigrant who is using an employment visa, then you may be even more concerned about being fired. Perhaps the company sponsored you so that you could initially get the visa and come to the United States. Since they’ve now fired you, are you in violation of your visa? Does this mean that the government is going to deport you, all because you lost your job?
The grace period
The most important thing to remember if you’re in this situation is that there’s a grace period. Yes, leaving your job or getting fired does violate the terms of your visa if you were required to keep that job.
But that does not mean that you have to worry about immediate deportation or that you have to leave the United States as soon as possible. You get a grace period to seek a new job, giving you 60 days to find one. You may be able to find another position within the same field or industry, meaning that you once again are eligible for your visa and you do not have to worry about deportation or adjusting your status.
That said, this does help to show how precarious your situation may be and why it’s so important for you to understand all of your legal rights and options at this time.