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Dimeji & Shannon

Tourist Visa employment

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No.

 

Edit: Let me elaborate a little. If you, say, owned a business outside the US that doesn't do business within the US, then you're probably in the clear to do that fine while you visit. However, conducting any business within the US is not permitted - in which case you are effectively the employer and sole employee.

Edited by geowrian

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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1 hour ago, Dimeji & Shannon said:

For someone applying for a tourist visa can the employment be self-employment?

 

A lot of people are self employed/ freelance.

The thing is, you still have to prove that you pay your taxes, that you have a steady income, etc. I've done so before and it wasn't an issue. 

I don't know why Geowrian said no, it's case to case and it might be a little harder to prove, but if that was the case, anyone that didn't work for a company wouldn't be able to get a VISA and that's silly.

sure, it depends on the type of self employment and that the rest of the ties to your country are strong: owning a house/property, cars, family living in your country, etc. 

 

🇲🇽  & 🇺🇸

➺ 01/07/17 Got married in Cozumel

➺ 02/04/17 Petition mailed 

➺ 02/08/17 Case Assigned to USCIS Nebraska, sigh. 

➺ 02/13/17 We got our NOA1! PD: February 8th 

➺ 12/15/17 NOA2 finally! after 10 1/2 months. 

➺ 12/21/17 NVC confirmed they received our file 

➺ 01/22/18 Documents sent to Rapidvisa 

➺ 02/05/18  NVC received our package 

03/15/18 Case complete! 

06/27/18  We got our Interview date! August 28th 

08/30/18 The package arrived (waited at Juarez)

08/31/18 Entered the U.S with my husband 

➺ 02/13/19 Husband confesses he cheated, leaves

➺ 02/16/19 Husband decides to abandon the marriage

➺ 05/13/19  I am officially divorced. 

 ➺ 07/03/20  I file to remove conditions on my own     

 ➺ 08/13/21 I finally get my biometrics appointment 

➺ 02/26/22 I got my interview assigned: March 31st. 

 

 

💜Owner of Miss Lore Tattoos 💜

www.missloretattoos.com   Instagram.com/missloretattoos 

 

Tough times never last, but tough people do. 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Nigeria
Timeline
2 minutes ago, Dilorena said:

 

A lot of people are self employed/ freelance.

The thing is, you still have to prove that you pay your taxes, that you have a steady income, etc. I've done so before and it wasn't an issue. 

I don't know why Geowrian said no, it's case to case and it might be a little harder to prove, but if that was the case, anyone that didn't work for a company wouldn't be able to get a VISA and that's silly.

sure, it depends on the type of self employment and that the rest of the ties to your country are strong: owning a house/property, cars, family living in your country, etc. 

 

Thank you for that information 

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7 minutes ago, Dilorena said:

I don't know why Geowrian said no, it's case to case and it might be a little harder to prove, but if that was the case, anyone that didn't work for a company wouldn't be able to get a VISA and that's silly.

sure, it depends on the type of self employment and that the rest of the ties to your country are strong: owning a house/property, cars, family living in your country, etc. 

 

A tourist visa does not permit performing work within the US. As noted in my edit, if you are doing self-employment outside the US and visit, you should be fine. However, engaging in "productive labor" while within the US is explicitly prohibited even on a B-1. A tourist visa does not permit, say, selling your goods or services within the US. I'm not sure which circumstance the OP meant by self employment.

 

For reference:

http://www.keamytavares.com/u-s-visas-self-employment-for-foreign-nationals/

Edited by geowrian

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Filed: Other Country: United Kingdom
Timeline

Needs more information.

Are you talking about engaging in self employed work while in the US? Or getting a tourist visa if you're self employed in your own country?

August 2000: We start e-mailing. I'm in Bosnia, she's in Florida

October 29th 2000: She sends me e-mail asking if I would marry her

October 29th 2000(5 seconds later): I say yes

November 2000: She sends me tickets to Orlando for when I get back

December 6th 2000: Return from Bos

December 11th 2000: Fly to Orlando, she meets me at airport

December 22nd 2000: I fly back to UK

January 3rd 2001: She flies to UK (Good times)

Mid February 2001: Pregnancy test Positive

Mid February 2001: She flies back to US

March 2001: Miscarriage, I fly to US on first flight I can get

May 2001: I leave US before my 90 days are up

June 2001: I fly back to US, stopped at airport for questioning as I had only just left

September 2001: Pregnancy test Positive again

September 2001: She falls sick, I make decision to stay to look after her as I am afraid I may have problems getting back in.

April 16th 2002: Our son is born, we start getting stuff together for his passport

March 6th 2003: We leave US for UK as family

Early April 2003: Family troubles make her return to US, I ask Embassy in London about possibilities of returning to US

April 16th 2003: London Embassy informs me that I will be banned from the Visa Waiver Program for 10 years, my little boys first birthday

June 13th 2006: I-129f sent

August 11th 2006: NOA1 Recieved

After our relationship breaks down she admits to me that she had never bothered to start the application process

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Just now, geowrian said:

A tourist visa does not permit performing work within the US. As noted in my edit, if you are doing self-employment outside the US and visit, you should be fine. However, engaging in "productive labor" while within the US is explicitly prohibited even on a B-1. A tourist visa does not permit, say, selling your goods or services within the US. I'm not sure which circumstance the OP meant by self employment.

that's correct, working in the U.S on a tourist VISA isn't permitted.  But I think he means that if being self employed is ok to apply for a VISA, which it is. But reminding someone that they shouldn't work there even if they're self employed is not a bad idea. Although this part has always confused me, because what if you have to take care of your business while on the U.S? You'd be technically working, but not getting paid in the U.S, which is what they want to avoid. 

 

🇲🇽  & 🇺🇸

➺ 01/07/17 Got married in Cozumel

➺ 02/04/17 Petition mailed 

➺ 02/08/17 Case Assigned to USCIS Nebraska, sigh. 

➺ 02/13/17 We got our NOA1! PD: February 8th 

➺ 12/15/17 NOA2 finally! after 10 1/2 months. 

➺ 12/21/17 NVC confirmed they received our file 

➺ 01/22/18 Documents sent to Rapidvisa 

➺ 02/05/18  NVC received our package 

03/15/18 Case complete! 

06/27/18  We got our Interview date! August 28th 

08/30/18 The package arrived (waited at Juarez)

08/31/18 Entered the U.S with my husband 

➺ 02/13/19 Husband confesses he cheated, leaves

➺ 02/16/19 Husband decides to abandon the marriage

➺ 05/13/19  I am officially divorced. 

 ➺ 07/03/20  I file to remove conditions on my own     

 ➺ 08/13/21 I finally get my biometrics appointment 

➺ 02/26/22 I got my interview assigned: March 31st. 

 

 

💜Owner of Miss Lore Tattoos 💜

www.missloretattoos.com   Instagram.com/missloretattoos 

 

Tough times never last, but tough people do. 

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Filed: F-1 Visa Country: Japan
Timeline

Any kind of employment while on a tourist visa in the US is considered a violation of your visa conditions.

 

If you are asking for the visa application, then yes - it is fine. A lot of people who apply are self-employed. That said, you need solid evidence that you are not an immigration risk and will come back on time. The burden of proof on that is on you, so if, for example, you are free-lancing, are not married, and renting an apartment, that might look bad (you have no strong ties).

Edited by KurosawaSan
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5 minutes ago, Dilorena said:

that's correct, working in the U.S on a tourist VISA isn't permitted.  But I think he means that if being self employed is ok to apply for a VISA, which it is. But reminding someone that they shouldn't work there even if they're self employed is not a bad idea. Although this part has always confused me, because what if you have to take care of your business while on the U.S? You'd be technically working, but not getting paid in the U.S, which is what they want to avoid. 

 

Agreed. I read it as asking if performing self-employment activities was permitted. Being self employed is not an issue...just more paperwork to show your financials. :)

 

That's where it's a bit of a gray area and is often debated here. Doing something like answering calls for work should be fine. Selling your thingamajig to a US company is clearly not. The line is much more fine in that case.

Edited by geowrian

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Nigeria
Timeline
4 minutes ago, MacUK said:

Needs more information.

Are you talking about engaging in self employed work while in the US? Or getting a tourist visa if you're self employed in your own country?

I'm talking about self employment in the country of origin. I had already read that you cannot work while here on a tourist visa. I'm sorry for not being clear in my question 

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Just now, geowrian said:

Agreed. I read it as asking if performing self-employment activities was permitted. Being self employed is not an issue...just more paperwork to show your financials. :)

 

That's where it's a bit of a gray area and is often debated here. Doing something like answering calls for work should be fine. Selling your thingamajig to a company is clearly not. The line is much more fine in that case.

 

You're right. I guess taking care of some basic aspects of your business overseas is one thing, but actually doing business inside the U.S, clearly isn't. 

It's good to always have more paperwork and evidence for everything, just in case. 

🇲🇽  & 🇺🇸

➺ 01/07/17 Got married in Cozumel

➺ 02/04/17 Petition mailed 

➺ 02/08/17 Case Assigned to USCIS Nebraska, sigh. 

➺ 02/13/17 We got our NOA1! PD: February 8th 

➺ 12/15/17 NOA2 finally! after 10 1/2 months. 

➺ 12/21/17 NVC confirmed they received our file 

➺ 01/22/18 Documents sent to Rapidvisa 

➺ 02/05/18  NVC received our package 

03/15/18 Case complete! 

06/27/18  We got our Interview date! August 28th 

08/30/18 The package arrived (waited at Juarez)

08/31/18 Entered the U.S with my husband 

➺ 02/13/19 Husband confesses he cheated, leaves

➺ 02/16/19 Husband decides to abandon the marriage

➺ 05/13/19  I am officially divorced. 

 ➺ 07/03/20  I file to remove conditions on my own     

 ➺ 08/13/21 I finally get my biometrics appointment 

➺ 02/26/22 I got my interview assigned: March 31st. 

 

 

💜Owner of Miss Lore Tattoos 💜

www.missloretattoos.com   Instagram.com/missloretattoos 

 

Tough times never last, but tough people do. 

200w.gif

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1 minute ago, Dimeji & Shannon said:

I'm talking about self employment in the country of origin. I had already read that you cannot work while here on a tourist visa. I'm sorry for not being clear in my question 

You're fine then. Just show evidence of your ties to return home. Good luck!

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Of course if you are on holiday and continuing work for your overseas office like replying to emails etc its fine. I am just doing that!

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16 hours ago, KurosawaSan said:

Any kind of employment while on a tourist visa in the US is considered a violation of your visa conditions.

 

If you are asking for the visa application, then yes - it is fine. A lot of people who apply are self-employed. That said, you need solid evidence that you are not an immigration risk and will come back on time. The burden of proof on that is on you, so if, for example, you are free-lancing, are not married, and renting an apartment, that might look bad (you have no strong ties).

this has always bothered me, since at least in Mexico, buying property with what they pay is nearly impossible. Everyone I know rents instead, or actually lives with their parents. Or just the fact you love traveling and even if you make decent money, don't want to be in one place, or don't feel like getting married, etc. I get it, but it seems like it excludes different lifestyles, if you're not a 9 to 5, married, house owning individual by choice. 

That explains why I'll never have a new tourist VISA :P

🇲🇽  & 🇺🇸

➺ 01/07/17 Got married in Cozumel

➺ 02/04/17 Petition mailed 

➺ 02/08/17 Case Assigned to USCIS Nebraska, sigh. 

➺ 02/13/17 We got our NOA1! PD: February 8th 

➺ 12/15/17 NOA2 finally! after 10 1/2 months. 

➺ 12/21/17 NVC confirmed they received our file 

➺ 01/22/18 Documents sent to Rapidvisa 

➺ 02/05/18  NVC received our package 

03/15/18 Case complete! 

06/27/18  We got our Interview date! August 28th 

08/30/18 The package arrived (waited at Juarez)

08/31/18 Entered the U.S with my husband 

➺ 02/13/19 Husband confesses he cheated, leaves

➺ 02/16/19 Husband decides to abandon the marriage

➺ 05/13/19  I am officially divorced. 

 ➺ 07/03/20  I file to remove conditions on my own     

 ➺ 08/13/21 I finally get my biometrics appointment 

➺ 02/26/22 I got my interview assigned: March 31st. 

 

 

💜Owner of Miss Lore Tattoos 💜

www.missloretattoos.com   Instagram.com/missloretattoos 

 

Tough times never last, but tough people do. 

200w.gif

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