You may have initially applied for a B visa because you wanted to visit the United States temporarily for the first time. Perhaps the specific reason was to determine whether to move to the U.S. long-term for work in the future. Specifically, you may have wanted to enter the country for business (i.e., B-1 visa), pleasure (i.e., B-2 visa), or a combination of both (i.e., B-1/B-2 visa). Whatever your specific reasons are, you must not participate in any actual work activity at this time. Without further ado, please follow along to find out whether you will be permitted to work in the U.S. with a tourist visa and how one of the proficient work visa lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can help you maintain a lawful presence in the country.
Am I permitted to work in the United States on a tourist visa?
Understandably, the rules for working with a tourist visa may be unclear, especially if you carry a tourist visa for business (i.e., a B-1 visa). But please allow us to set the record straight: a B visa type does not permit you to work in the United States. However, there may still be certain work-related activities you may participate in at this time, and they read as follows:
- You may be allowed to attend a conference related to your field of work.
- You may be allowed to attend business meetings on behalf of your foreign company.
- You may be allowed to meet with stakeholders/investors of your foreign company.
- You may be allowed to apply/attend interviews for a job at a U.S.-based company.
- You may be allowed to sign contracts/papers to incorporate a U.S.-based company.
What happens if I do not obtain legal work authorization in the U.S.?
Say, for instance, that you get offered a job at a United States-based company after applying and attending interviews on your B visa stay. Well, your B visa may only be active for 60 days. This means you must exit the country once this time is up regardless of your potential job opportunity here. You may then have to return to your home country and apply for a work visa through a U.S. consulate or embassy there.
Otherwise, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may deem you to have an unlawful presence in the country. With this, you may face serious immigration penalties, like being temporarily or permanently barred from re-entering the country’s borders. Ultimately, this may jeopardize the United States-based job opportunity that you were working toward in the first place.
In conclusion, you should know that one of the talented work visa lawyers is here to assist you with whatever your legal issue may be at this time. So please reach out to us at Lupton Law LLC today.
