B1/B2 Will Do?

[lynnf 0]

I'm Malaysia holding B1/B2 Visa.

 

I have a few contacts in New York who would like to attend my etiquette training but it's too for form them to travel to Malaysia. Can I book a hotel meeting space in New York to run a training (1 to 5 days, depends) entering US with B1/B2 Visa? It's a paid training.

 

If not, what are the alternatives?

[aaron2020 11,651]

You can not work on a B1/B2 visa in the US.  You can not be paid for services rendered in the US.  You would be breaking the law and will likely be banned from the US for at least 10 years.  

Zoom meeting would be an alternative.  You are extremely unlikely to get any type of visa to run a paid etiquette training in the US.  

Sorry.

[lynnf 0]

Thanks for your reply.

 

What if the few participants paid me prior to my arrival into US?  Can I conduct the training in US for just a few days (legally)?

[aaron2020 11,651]

19 minutes ago, lynnf said:

Thanks for your reply.

 

What if the few participants paid me prior to my arrival into US?  Can I conduct the training in US for just a few days (legally)?

Which part of you can't be paid for work in the US did you not understand?  Why would paying you prior make it legal for you to work in the US?  Do you think it's that easy to get around US laws?   It's illegal for you to work in the US even if you weren't getting paid - that's the law.  

By using the word "few" twice, it seems that you are trying to minimize the seriousness of what you want to do.  A little bit of paid work would be a violation of your visa that can lead to you being banned from the US.  Don't minimize how serious it would be for you to violate US laws.  

 

You now know the law.  Your choice.  Do you feel lucky?
 

Edited May 20, 2022 by aaron2020

[lynnf 0]

Is there a way I can legally enter US to provide the training on my own DIY arrangement for a private group for a day or two, followed by a week or two vacation in US?

 

Another scenario, the Master Trainer (US) has sked if I would provide a day of training for her clients in US. In this situation, there would be an American counterpart (company) involved. What type of Visa do I need to enter US for this purpose for a day, and to travel in US for a week or two?

[aaron2020 11,651]

3 minutes ago, lynnf said:

Is there a way I can legally enter US to provide the training on my own DIY arrangement for a private group for a day or two, followed by a week or two vacation in US? Good luck.  The answer is not going to change no matter how many time you ask.  

 

Another scenario, the Master Trainer (US) has sked if I would provide a day of training for her clients in US. In this situation, there would be an American counterpart (company) involved. What type of Visa do I need to enter US for this purpose for a day, and to travel in US for a week or two?  Have the US company contact their immigration lawyer.  This is how it is normally handled.

Last time that I will try to help you.

 

 

Edited May 20, 2022 by aaron2020

[Rocio0010 5,579]

1 hour ago, lynnf said:

If not, what are the alternatives?

Their alternatives are to find an etiquette trainer within the US.

The alternatives for you are none, because a B1/B2 visa does not allow you to work.

[SalishSea 17,920]

1 hour ago, lynnf said:

Thanks for your reply.

 

What if the few participants paid me prior to my arrival into US?  Can I conduct the training in US for just a few days (legally)?

No.

 

Do the training remotely.  

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

The one thing in common with all the permitted B1 activities in the US is “Will receive no salary or income from a U.S based company/entity”. For something like training (specifically listed here) they can cover your expenses related to your stay in the US, but they cannot  pay you for the training - it explicitly says a B1 visitor cannot be employed as a trainer.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/BusinessVisa Purpose Listings March 2014 flier.pdf

 

So as others have said etc, the options are

- you train them via zoom ( they can pay you in your current country and you can use those proceeds to visit the US for tourism)

- they visit your country and you do the training in person there (again, they can then pay you in your current country and you can use those proceeds to visit the US for tourism)

- Or they can find a US-based trained they are legally allowed to employ 

 

As for your questions about being paid in advance. Not only is this illegal, but you would be (knowingly, now) asking your clients to engage in an illegal practice. I think this is the kind of thing that may lead to not only visa revocation, but a ban. 

[lynnf 0]

Thank you for your response. 

 

I go to US often cos' my boyfriend is American. That is why I asked this to see if there's a way I could legally kill two birds at one go, rather than just be there (staying at home in US) most of the time. 

 

I appreciate all the discussion in this thread as all answers do spark ideas and give clarity. 

 

How about while I'm staying at my boyfriend's home in US, can I do Zoom (paid services)??

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Just now, lynnf said:

 

 

How about while I'm staying at my boyfriend's home in US, can I do Zoom (paid services)??

 

Omg. What do you not understand about not getting paid in the US for working in the US? How many more ways can people say this to you?

[Mike E 11,740]

1 hour ago, lynnf said:

 

 

How about while I'm staying at my boyfriend's home in US, can I do Zoom (paid services)??

 

No.

 

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/B-1 permissible activities.pdf says what you can do. 

[lynnf 0]

How about when I'm at my boyfriend's home in US, can I write articles at home?  

[lynnf 0]

Can someone please enlighten me... it says B1 Visa allows you to negotiate contract. 

Negotiating a contract for paid services is allowed? 

Why is this allowed?

 

 

 

[lynnf 0]

13 hours ago, aaron2020 said:

Which part of you can't be paid for work in the US did you not understand?  Why would paying you prior make it legal for you to work in the US?  Do you think it's that easy to get around US laws?   It's illegal for you to work in the US even if you weren't getting paid - that's the law.  

By using the word "few" twice, it seems that you are trying to minimize the seriousness of what you want to do.  A little bit of paid work would be a violation of your visa that can lead to you being banned from the US.  Don't minimize how serious it would be for you to violate US laws.  

 

You now know the law.  Your choice.  Do you feel lucky?
 

I appreciate all the replies in this thread. I suppose I don't understand the meaning of 'work'. 

(My reason of going to US is to be with Boyfriend in one locality)  

 

One of the respondents said even conducting a training over Zoom (while at Boyfriend's home in US) is not allowed.  Now this has brought me to asking if I could pull out my laptop while at Boyfriend's home in US to do any work at all, such as writing articles, editing videos for my weekly You Tube Channel..?

 

If it's no, then I suppose I cannot work on writing my book on my laptop while I'm staying at Boyfriend's home as well?

 

Thank you.

Edited May 21, 2022 by lynnf