United States · H-1B and other work visas
H-1B 60-day grace period calculator.
Enter your last day of employment and the end of your authorized validity. The tool returns the date the grace period ends, whichever of the two limits comes first.
You are not out of status solely because a job ended for up to 60 consecutive days or until the end of your authorized validity, whichever is shorter, once per validity period. The rule covers E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1 and TN holders and their dependents.
Enter your dates
Result
Enter your last day of employment and your validity end date, then press Find the end date.
The rule in the regulation
8 CFR 214.1(l)(2) states that an alien admitted or otherwise provided status in E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1 or TN classification, and dependents, "shall not be considered to have failed to maintain nonimmigrant status solely on the basis of a cessation of the employment on which the alien's classification was based, for up to 60 consecutive days or until the end of the authorized validity period, whichever is shorter, once during each authorized validity period." DHS may eliminate or shorten the period as a matter of discretion, and unless otherwise authorized under 8 CFR 274a.12 the person may not work during it.
Paragraph (l)(3) adds that someone in that period may apply for an extension of stay or a change of status, if otherwise eligible. In practice this is the window in which an extension of stay (for example through a new employer's petition) or a change to another status can be filed.
How the tool counts
The first day of the period is the day after the last day of employment, and 60 days are counted from the last day. The tool then compares that date with the end of validity you enter and returns the earlier. The regulation counts "consecutive days" and does not say how to treat the day employment ended, so a one-day difference from another count is possible; treat the result as a planning date.
Worked examples
- Plenty of validity. Last day of work March 10, 2027, approval valid through January 1, 2028: the 60 days end May 9, 2027.
- Validity runs out first. Same last day, but the validity ends April 20, 2027. The period is 41 days and ends April 20.
Limits to know about
- Once per validity period. A second layoff within the same period does not start a second 60 days under this paragraph.
- No work authorization. The grace period protects status; it does not allow you to work.
- Discretion. DHS "may eliminate or shorten" the period, for example in a case involving a violation.
- Six-year limit. The H-1B six-year limit is a separate count; use the six-year limit calculator for it.
- It is not a guarantee of a new petition. A new employer's petition must still be approved, and the $100,000 payment described for certain H-1B petitions is covered by a separate checker.
What this does not cover
Other categories with different rules, such as F-1 students (see the F-1 grace period calculator) or J-1 exchange visitors; or whether a particular change of employer petition can be filed as a portability petition.
Sources
- eCFR: 8 CFR 214.1(l), maintenance of status after cessation of employment — paragraphs (l)(2) and (l)(3). Read November 1, 2026 (current to October 29, 2026).
Retrieved November 1, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the H-1B grace period?
Up to 60 consecutive days after employment ends, or until the end of the authorized validity period, whichever is shorter, under 8 CFR 214.1(l)(2).
Does the 60-day grace period apply to visas other than H-1B?
Yes. The same paragraph covers E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1 and TN classifications and their dependents.
Can I work during the 60 days?
No, unless authorized under 8 CFR 274a.12. The paragraph protects status and does not authorize employment.
What if my I-94 expires before 60 days pass?
The shorter period applies, so the grace period ends on the validity end date. The calculator shows that case.
Can I use the grace period more than once?
Only once during each authorized validity period, according to the regulation.
What can I do inside the 60 days?
You may apply for an extension of stay or a change of status, if otherwise eligible, under 8 CFR 214.1(l)(3). An extension of stay or change of status application filed inside the period, including one that rests on a new employer's petition, is allowed by that paragraph.
Can DHS shorten the grace period?
Yes. The regulation says DHS may eliminate or shorten the 60-day period as a matter of discretion.
Not legal advice
This page applies the 60-day rule to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice and does not decide whether your status was otherwise maintained. Consult an immigration attorney before relying on a date.