I have a quick question that no one may be able to answer....

I arrived in the US on November 20, 2006 on my K-1 Visa. My fiance and I plan on getting married during the Xmas break in Vegas...I never bothered applying for the temporary 3 month work visa because I've heard time and time again that it takes almost 3 months to process so it ends up being useless....It also seems that even after you're married and have applied for AOS, it still may take months to get the temporary work permit....I have my SSN and will get my State driver's license soon....This leads me to the question: Do all employers ask to see a work permit or is a SSN often sufficient? If the employer does not ask to see a work permit, is there any way that they will find out you don't have a permit? I've been looking for jobs, and I know there are a lot of under the table jobs, but sometimes it's difficult to tell which ones are willing to pay under the table..

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions on this topic??

Thanks!
Kristy

If you look closely at your SSN card it should have the disclaimer "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" This tells the employer to request to see your EAD card.

Apply for EAD when you apply to adjust status.

All legitimate employers are required to have you fill out Form I-9. Locate the form I-9 and read what the different types of acceptable documents that they will be looking for.

You are not allowed to work without Employment autorization.... so why come on to a site like VJ and ask for help in breaking the law... every single one of us who has to file for AOS and EAD has to wait to start work... do you think you are any diffrent from all of us??? do you think it is a good way to start your new life in a new country by going against the rules???

There is nothing to stop you applying for Jobs... you just cant start employment until you are employment authorized and you have your EAD..... but I guess if you are happy to work illegaly then you will regardless of the law..

Kez

I think you know the answer to the questionbut if you want to risk it andbreak the law that is up to you. You risk not getting final approval and being sent back.

I thought all states required an EAD or GC to get a driver's license?

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#BDLP

devilette,

All states are not California, and I see many items on the list you reference in addition to EAD and GC.

My wife didn't have either when she got her driver's license a year or so ago (not in California).

Yodrak

Kristy,

Working without EA as the spouse of a USC and getting paid 'under the table' are the employer's issues and risks.

If you do take a job that pays 'under the table' - whether or not you are EA - and you do not report your earnings to the IRS, that's your issue and risk.

Yodrak

There are situations where an employer does not need to fill out an I-9. In the end, it's a much more serious issue to an employer than to the employee. You won't get "sent back" because of it -- illegal work is forgiven via marriage to a USC. It may be that if you work as an independent contractor or as a nanny, for example, where an I-9 is not required by law, you *could* be fine as long as you report and pay the appropriate taxes.

Not sure about other states, but here in Georgia Joel needed his EAD, SSN, *and* proof of residency to get his GADL. Such lovely people to work with too (add sarcasm here).

Thanks for all the input!

I have no problem breaking the rules (I think most of them are ridiculous and are purposely in place to set up life obstacles) however, I've put a lot of time/money/effort into my relationship and it would be extremely disheartening to be sent back....In any other nation I would probably feel comfortable working under the table, but the US is so totalitarian they actually might go to the extreme and 'deport' me for trying to obtain some extra bucks... Do I really want to test that theory?

Kristy

Wow...what an attitude. However, I am glad to hear that you won't risk being sent back. You might think some of our rules are "ridiculous and purposefully in place to set up life obstacles" but they are there for a reason. All of us had to go through the same process and none of us liked it. It's those that go against the rules that make it harder for the rest of us who abide by them.

I MUST LAUGH at all of you guys shouting "How dare you!", "...if you want to break the law..." and other extreme thoughts.

I also took the time to look at the states in which those people are from and can see that those states prolly don't have much of a latin influence in them. I am from Texas and well it is a way of life that latinos are in place and get jobs. Right or wrong they work illegally and/or are here illegally and they live their lives just fine for YEARS!

For those curious about how to work when you are not supposed to. Think about your decision and the consequences and do what you need to do. You are in the 'right' more than others who are here illegally and do not have anything pending to acquire the ability to work in the US legally liek you do.

My wife is working now without ever getting any EAD. She just has her passport, I-94 and a SS card with the DHS approval required stamped on it and she works at Sears Grand here in Austin, Texas making $8/hr 40 hours per week.

Her I-94 expires on DEC 26 and we are only this week sending in our paperwork for her AOS and EAD. I don't see her quitting her job while we wait weeks or months for the actual EAD to come in. She gets her taxes taken out and we will be filing a seperate tax return for the 2006 tax year.

I know Illegals who aren't even supposed to be in the country who send in a 1040A each year without a REAL social security number. theya re still here years later. long as the government gets paid why would they send you back????

YOU MAY BE HAPPY TO ENCOURAGE YOUR WIFE TO WORK ILLEGALLY... WITHOUT THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK BUT PLEASE DONT TRY TO TELL PEOPLE IT IS OK TO DO THIS....

IF AN EAD WAS NOT REQUIRED THEN WHY WOULD IT BE A REQUIREMENT TO WORK.... YES YOUR WIFE WAS EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZED FOR 90 DAYS ON HER K1 BUT AFTER THE 90 DAYS SHE IS NOT...

It's no use Kez. These people will do what they want. Eventually one of them WILL get caught. Then another one. Then eventually there will be stiffer regulations on how those of us who actually FOLLOW the rules are treated.

As for the previous poster said and I quote:
"I know Illegals who aren't even supposed to be in the country who send in a 1040A each year without a REAL social security number. they are still here years later. long as the government gets paid why would they send you back????"
Soooo....you think that makes it ok to encourage someone to actually break the law?????? How ridiculous is that? I might not agree with having to wait til the gov't approved my husband to work (neither did he) but we followed the law. Does that make us stupid?

At least we can rest at night knowing that someday my husband *WON'T* get caught by the gov't or the IRS.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND NOR HAVE I EVER SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE WORK ILLEGALLY IN THESE FORUMS.

I have mentioned my personal experiences and I HAVE suggest that people TRY to use the rules to get employment during thier initial 90 days without an EAD because that is LEGAL!

DO NOT work illegally people. It is wrong and you will be d*mned for eternity.

DO use the rules to gain employment during your initial 90 days using the following information that is GOOD information.

SSA.gov - My immigration document shows K-1. How do I get a work Social Security number?

SSA.gov - Do legal aliens need a Social Security number to work?

SSA.gov - What types of Social Security cards does SSA issue?

I really don't see how me working illegally could effect anyone else in the longrun. How the hell could they make the "regulations" any stiffer? What's next, the US will stop allowing anyone to come in on a K-1 visa because a few people were caught working under the table? If anything, if the USCIS is so concerned with those working under the table they could change the 'rules' by making it easier for K-1s to obtain employment. EG - having a stamp at all border crossings that allows K-1s to work immediately. We've all been through their rigorous screening, I see no GOOD reason for us not to be able to work immediately. Someone mentioned that the "rules are in place for a good reason." I know its horrible to say, especially to some that are so patriotic, but the US does not like new people and part of the reason this whole visa process is so arduous is because the US doesnt really care to have us here and would prefer to see us fail at this "visa process." As an aside, check out how many legal immigrants are admitted into the US per year in proportion to a country like Canada. Very few in proportion to Canada, which I think is correlated with the USs' dislike of foreigners. For those of you who want to bury your head in the sand, go for it. By now everyone should realize the US isn't some lovey dovey place that loves foreigners. Quite the opposite.

Not all laws and rules are decent and none of us can claim that we never break the law. I sensed an attitude that if you break the law you are an a*shole and shouldn't be submitting to this forum. Please, give me a break....Working under the table in not wrong, it's just illegal...It does not negatively impact anyone...The only risk is posed to the individual committing the illegal act...

PS - Despite my thoughts on certain rules & regulations I don't ever intend to work illegally. *sigh*

Kristy

Not all states.

In PA you can get a drivers license valid for 1 year with a SS card and NOA1 from AOS.

Ok please reread your posts... both of you have stated I encourage someone to break the law. youhave quoted me, but then said I have encouraged people to do things when I have merely stated a fact that there are illegal aliens living in the US and working and in some cases even paying taxes! WHOA! CALL THE PRESS! NEWSFLASH!

Now also show me were I said you or anyone else that hasn't tried getting a job prior to the expiration of their I-94 and before filing for an EAD is 'stupid'. I think you called yourself that... not me.

You are now becoming rude and insulting....

Back in late 80's when i was running a company in North Miami anytime i hired someone that looked like an alien i had to put in the personell file a copy of his social seurity card and green card if an alien. If not i could be fined 10 grand. Once they actually ame around and checked the files. I wonder what ever happened to that law or is it just another they don't bther enforcing?

Mostly the don't bother enforcing. I don't have a link, but I read somewhere that the number of prosecutions of companies hiring illegal workers has dropped significantly in the last 5 years to almost negligible levels.

tsk tsk....temper temper!

I didn't say YOU were encouraging anyone...YOU misread. The word ENCOURAGE was used as a generalized statement. It sounds as if your way of thinking is "since they do it, why can't I".

NO...I asked if waiting til we had the EAD makes us stupid. Semantics, you really should watch that...I never said I was stupid. Maybe you should dig a little deeper into those links you provided....or check out these:

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc/htm/facts.htm#verify

http://www.immihelp.com/immigration/employ...n-document.html

We have three active threads covering the same danm topic. Is it prudent to ask the Cap'n to close out at least two of them?

How about all three? I worry that poeple might buy into some of the bad information posted in any of these threads. Its amazing how people will accept an "easy" lie, as opposed to a "hard" truth.

Especially those that are desperate to work.

Yes, I have found there is misinformation on this site and it is better to obtain info through published books on the actual process.

I still don't know what the hell the easy lie and hard truth are.

I would also be extremely cautious with books - many are out of date or have incorrect information printed (NOLO for example, it has been reported, has many errors).

IMHO, Best to consult a qualified immigration attorney rather than rely on anything you read here or in a book.

There is misinformation everywhere in this world...but you'll find more accurate information here than on most immigration sites, because we've all experienced it. You can't beat first hand experience. The problem is, people being so desperate to bei with their SO's or to work, they'll believe anything that might get them to that point as quick as possible.

Even published books can have misinformation in them.

Well my aunt was an Adjuant Judge for a few years and now works as a Director for EEOC. I made a call to her this evening and asked if she had any friends that could help with my questions. She is going to email me contact information to an attorney who deals in immigration and I will see if he can answer my questions in his spare time (read as FREE time).