H1B Visa and contract

[qli707]

I was employed at a University and my contract will end May 12th,2013. But my H1B visa will end on May 31st, 2013. Do I need to leave United States immediately after my contract is over? Or can I leave U.S. when my Visa expired? I still have the pay steib at the end of May, 2014. Thank you very much for your help.

[kabkaba]

Technically you go out of status when your employment ends and you must leave immediately. If the employments ends before the petition expiry date, the employer is required to pay for your ticket to home country. However, a small out of status period may not affect any future petitions or applications. As long as you leave before your I-94 date, you will not be illegally present.