Quitting Your Job or Being Fired

If you have worked at the job on your DS-2019 form for at least 3 weeks and find that it is not a good fit for you, you are allowed to quit your job and find a new one.

If you are fired before you have worked at the job for 3 weeks, your program will be terminated, except in special circumstances (see below).

Remember that there may be penalties for leaving your job or housing early - for example, you may not receive your housing deposit back, or you may need to pay for additional weeks of housing.  You must inform ERDT of your final day of work before you leave your job.

MEDICAL ISSUES: If you have a sudden medical problem that prevents you from working at your assigned job for at least 3 weeks after arrival, you must get a note from a doctor in the U.S. before you quit.  If the medical condition is serious or is not covered by your insurance, ERDT may ask that you return to your home country, for your health and safety.

If you travel to the U.S. knowing that you have a medical condition that would prevent you from working at your assigned job, ERDT will terminate your program.

BIG CITIES: ERDT students are not permitted to move to big cities (New York, Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco, or any other big cities) for work.  Very rarely do big cities have seasonal work, and big cities can often be dangerous. If you move to a big city, or to any area that does not have seasonal work, we will end your program early and you will have 30 days to travel in the U.S. before you must return home.

FAMILY: ERDT students are not permitted to live with/near, or work for relatives or family friends.  If you move to live with/near a relative or family friend, we will end your program early and you will have 30 days to travel in the U.S. before you must return home.

If You Are Fired

You are an at-will employee and not under any contract.  This means that you may be fired at any time, except:

  • You may not be fired for reporting an unsafe condition;

  • You may not be fired for being injured at work;

  • You may not be fired for reporting sexual harassment;

  • You may not be fired for reporting discrimination;

  • You may not be fired for refusing to do something illegal that your employer told you to do.

If you are fired for doing something illegal (such as stealing money or goods from your company) and the employer has proof of this, we will have you return to your home country.

If you are fired for any reason not listed above AFTER you have worked at your job for 3 weeks, ERDT will allow you to find a new job, and will assist you in your job search if you need help.  If you are fired due to the fault of the employer, ERDT will use this experience when determining whether to work with the employer next year.

Frequently Asked Questions

When am I allowed to leave my first job?

You may leave your first job only after you have worked there for 3 weeks.

If you leave your job before you have worked there for 3 weeks, your program will be terminated.  If you do not leave the U.S. immediately, your name will go on a list with Immigration and Customs Enforcement of persons to be found, detained, and deported.  If you ever try to visit the U.S. again, the embassy will question why your record was terminated.

If your employer is not meeting the terms of your job offer, or if you have a note from a doctor in the U.S., stating that you have a sudden medical condition that prevents you from doing the tasks required of you, email ERDT and we may give you permission to quit early.

What happens if I start training or working at a new job without permission from ERDT?

Your program will be terminated.  If you do not leave the U.S. immediately, your name will go on a list with Immigration and Customs Enforcement of persons to be found, detained, and deported.  If you ever apply for a U.S. visa again, the embassy will investigate why your record was terminated.

Do I have to keep working while in the U.S.?  If I quit my job, how long do I have to find a new job?

You are expected to work from your visa start date to your visa end date.  If you quit your job or are fired from your job, you have 3 weeks in which to find a new job. If you decide not to find a new job, or if you are not able to find a new job within 3 weeks, the U.S. Government requires ERDT to cancel your program.  Cancellation is different than termination.  Cancellation just means that ERDT will change your visa end date to end immediately. It does not have a negative effect on your future ability to come to the U.S., as long as you leave the U.S. within 30 days of the date of cancellation.