Options for someone laid off under a TN1 Visa

What are the options for someone who has been laid off under a TN1 Visa?

I've read a lot of websites, and they all say that a person under this visa must leave
the country within 3 days to 1 week.

Is there a way to stay in the country legally?

Yep, find another employer willing to sponsor you for a TN.

But, you still have to leave the US asap if you've been laid off or otherwise lost your job that was sponsoring your current TN.

Thanks.

Are there no other options but to leave the country? Is there another visa I can transfer to? Such as changing to a visitor visa?

Not on a TN-1.

Hi, I believe you can change status to b2 visa to close up any affairs and you can look for another job. Long as you are in status. I got this answer from the immigration portal forum under th tn section. They're very helpful with tn visa questions!

If your employment ceases the you should apply for a B2 ASAP to avoid accumulating any illegal presence.

If you are applying for a B2 and mention that you will be looking for employment, I wouldn't count your application being successful.

Just my 2 cents and today that's worth 1.96 cents Cdn.

Alta Al

Bump.

Does anyone know /how/ to change visa status or apply for a B-2? I read elsewhere to file an I-539, but when I looked closer at it, it's not for TN status visa holders.

TIA,

By far the quickest way is to go to a POE. Just leave and re-enter the US, B-2 is the default visitor's category.

I called the USCIS about the I-539 because I found the TN instructions unclear. I was told that yes, you can use that form to apply to change your status from TN to B-2 visitor.

I forked over the $300 (a hard thing to do since I can't collect UI benefits and need to save for COBRA -- sorry, I digress) because I am getting medical treatment and the round trip would be difficult. But as Steven says, if you're at or near a border, leave and re-enter there, if only to save the money from filing the form.

Can the person who got laid off stay in US and look for another job so that the new company can apply a new TN visa for him/her?