On an E-9 visa, can I quit my current workplace and move to a different one?
I came in under the Employment Permit System and work at a factory, but the conditions are really hard and I want to move somewhere else. I heard the E-9 limits how many times you can change workplaces and the process is strict. I'd like to know in which cases a change is allowed, how to apply at the employment center, and how many days I have to find a new job.
1 Answer
On the E-9 you normally can't switch workplaces freely, but a change is allowed for reasons that aren't your fault — the business closing, unpaid wages, violence or discrimination, or violations of your working conditions. You generally get up to three changes during your three-year stay, and moves caused by the employer's fault don't count against that limit. To do it, you file a workplace-change application at your local Employment Center and then have three months to find a new workplace and sign a contract; missing that window can jeopardize your status, so gather evidence of your reason (pay slips, recordings, medical certificates) and consider help from a Migrant Workers' Support Center.