An H1B visa is used for employment purposes. Often, what happens is that a company identifies an employee whom they want to hire from another country. They offer this person a job and sponsor them so that they can get a visa and come take the position. In other words, employment is an inherent part of the agreement, and it is specifically the reason that the visa is being granted by the government in the first place.
This can create some complications when someone gets laid off or fired. If they had to maintain that employment to keep their visa, they may be worried that they’re now going to be deported. They’re not choosing to violate their visa, of course, but it has happened to them because they have lost their job. What should they do next?
Looking for other employment
The most important thing to know at a time like this is that there is generally a 60-day grace period with an H1B visa. So, someone who loses their job isn’t suddenly in violation of their visa and at risk of deportation the next day. They still have roughly two months before it would become a problem.
During this time, they may want to identify if other jobs would satisfy the visa requirements. Maybe they could work in the same industry or even take a job with the same title and responsibilities, just at a different company. If they’re able to find this type of employment, then they can get back in compliance with the terms of their visa, and they don’t have to worry about negative ramifications such as deportation.
This does show why employment visas can be a bit complex, however. Those who are working in the United States as immigrants must know exactly what legal options they have and what steps to take at critical times.