An employment visa allows you to stay in the United States. But you often have to take a specific job in order to get – and keep – the visa. Your employer may have sponsored it, showing the government that they would like to hire you because of your skills or expertise. You need to keep that job in order for the visa to be valid.
But this can raise some serious questions about what happens if you get fired. Say that you make a mistake and they decide to terminate your position. Or perhaps it’s not even your fault, and you just get laid off as the company shrinks. Is this going to increase your odds of being deported?
There is a grace period
You could be deported for violating your visa. Since you are in the United States on the condition that you will perform the duties of your employment, you do need to continue working at that job. If you just quit your job and stay in the country, that’s a serious violation of immigration laws.
That said, there is a 60-day grace period. You do have time to find another job. Often, immigrants who lose their jobs are able to find another that satisfies the requirements of the visa. They don’t have to leave the country at all, and they certainly don’t have to worry about being deported. So, if you’re in this situation, your goal should simply be finding another qualifying job in the next 60 days.
That said, things can get complicated with your immigration status. Be sure you know about all of the legal options at your disposal.