When you initially decided to come to the United States, it was to look for work. You had a job offer from an American company. You used this to get an H1-B visa, allowing you to legally live and work in the U.S. even though you are not a permanent resident or a naturalized citizen.
As such, you may be concerned about losing your job. If you are terminated from your position or if the company does layoffs, would your status be at risk? Could you be deported if you lose your job, considering that having that job is one of the conditions for the H1-B visa?
There is a 60-day grace period
It is true that losing your job can put your status at risk. An H1-B visa does require employment, so if you just stayed in the U.S. indefinitely without a job, you would violate the terms of that visa.
However, this does not happen right away. There is a 60-day grace period. This gives you a chance to seek another job that may allow you to retain your visa. You do not have to worry about being deported or asked to leave the country immediately.
If you cannot find another job that satisfies the visa requirements, it may be time to explore your options to adjust your status.
For instance, maybe you have been working on getting your green card and becoming a permanent resident. If you complete that process within the 60 days, then it does not matter that you are in violation of the terms of the H1-B visa. As a permanent resident, you can still legally stay in the United States, and you could take longer to seek another form of employment.
All of this can be fairly complex, and it is very important to your future that you understand exactly what legal steps to take. This is why it often helps to work with an experienced attorney.