It may have been your lifelong dream to visit the United States. And this may have all come true when you get approved for a B-2 visa, a nonimmigrant visa designated for individuals like you who wish to enter the country temporarily for tourism, pleasure, or visiting. Well, say that you did not anticipate the cost of your visit to the U.S. to be so expensive. With this, you may be tempted to seek temporary work here to fund the rest of your trip. Importantly, do not do this before double-checking the terms and conditions of your tourist visa. Without further ado, please read on to discover whether you are eligible to work in the U.S. with a tourist visa and how a seasoned work authorization permit lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can help you go through the proper legal steps for this.
Am I eligible to work in the United States with a tourist visa?
The short answer is, no, you are not allowed to work in the United States while only carrying a tourist visa (i.e., B-2 visa). This is because, simply put, different visa types require different application processes, have different eligibility requirements, and have different functions overall.
This is to say that a tourist visa, as the name suggests, is issued for a limited time (i.e., usually up to six months) and is meant for leisure travel activities. On the other hand, a work authorization visa carries a more extensive timeframe (i.e., usually spanning multiple years) and is meant for business and employment activities with an approved U.S.-based employer. It is worth mentioning that if you so much as attempt to work while on a tourist visa, it may be revoked effective immediately by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), prompting your premature departure from the country.
What do I need to get work authorization in the United States?
To reiterate, obtaining work authorization privileges in the United States requires a whole other set of steps and requirements to be met. In this specific example, let’s reference the employment authorization document (EAD). So, applying for an EAD may go as follows:
- Create an account on the USCIS’s website.
- Fill out and file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
- Supplement this form with any other relevant, required documentation.
- Pay the required filing fee of approximately $520.
It is worth mentioning that acquiring an EAD card does not require sponsorship by a U.S.-based employer. However, other work visas, such as an H-1B visa, have this extra step. In conclusion, you should know that a competent family immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI is here to assist you with whatever your legal issue may be at this time. So please reach out to us at Sesini Law Group, S.C. today.