Penalties for working without authorization

[donnellyhc 0]

Here is my question. If we are waiting for the EAD and my husband is offered a job and decided to work in the meantime, would there be any penalty or consequence?

Of course, it would be illegal, but you would be surprised how many employers do not check the immigration status of their employees. There are millions who work without authorization in this country.

We were wondering if anyone has worked or knows someone who worked without an EAD and what happened in the process? Considering how long it takes USCIS to process paperwork, it makes me doubt they would ever find out.

Would the government forgive working illegally if it was only for a short time and small amount of money? What about circumstances where someone really needed to bring income to help their family? Would it really be so bad.

I know you might be thinking...DON'T DO IT, IT'S ILLEGAL, but I want to know from experience what really could happen, not what the US threatens they will do. It makes me so mad that millions work illegally here without penalty (they even file tax returns sometimes!) and my husband who came here legally and has waited so long has to prolong his unemployment even further.

Thank you for your thoughts and responses.

[himher 634]

Glad to answer that:

http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/ar...3losangeles.htm

[Otto 83]

The burden falls on the employer to document its workers and to reverify (if needed) their eligibility. That's why we all complete an I-9 in order to become employed.

Personally, I'd have to suspect any employer who is willing to falsify documents in order to hire someone - I have to believe they are (mostly) not on the up-and-up.

If it were me in that situation - I'd avoid employers willing to circumvent 'the system' because I'd wonder if they're paying me a fair wage, be worried I'd be treated wrong/unfairly etc.

Out of curiosity - what is the nature of your husband's visa/EAD problems (timeline is empty)??

[Boiler 45,549]

It is more an Employer issue, and as you said most do not care.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Here is my question. If we are waiting for the EAD and my husband is offered a job and decided to work in the meantime, would there be any penalty or consequence?

Of course, it would be illegal, but you would be surprised how many employers do not check the immigration status of their employees. There are millions who work without authorization in this country.

We were wondering if anyone has worked or knows someone who worked without an EAD and what happened in the process? Considering how long it takes USCIS to process paperwork, it makes me doubt they would ever find out.

Would the government forgive working illegally if it was only for a short time and small amount of money? What about circumstances where someone really needed to bring income to help their family? Would it really be so bad.

I know you might be thinking...DON'T DO IT, IT'S ILLEGAL, but I want to know from experience what really could happen, not what the US threatens they will do. It makes me so mad that millions work illegally here without penalty (they even file tax returns sometimes!) and my husband who came here legally and has waited so long has to prolong his unemployment even further.

Thank you for your thoughts and responses.

Seriously.

[I'm Gone 60]

It makes me so mad that millions work illegally here without penalty (they even file tax returns sometimes!) and my husband who came here legally and has waited so long has to prolong his unemployment even further.

Most of the people working illegally didn't come here legally in the first place, so what's it to them to work illegally. Your spouse you say came here legally, so why take to chance of screwing that up by not waiting a few months for an EAD card.

[Johnnie J 0]

Should someone call ICE or make a report your husband would be in a pretty hefty deal of trouble. But like they've said, employer gets seriously in trouble. If you've done everything legal so far, don't risk it.

An currently MOST employers make one fill out the I-9

Edited October 31, 2008 by Johnnie J

[Zee Bee 61]

If you KNOW it is going to be illegal then why risk it?

As Len said: Seriously?

[JeanneVictoria 55]

Here is my question. If we are waiting for the EAD and my husband is offered a job and decided to work in the meantime, would there be any penalty or consequence?

Of course, it would be illegal, but you would be surprised how many employers do not check the immigration status of their employees. There are millions who work without authorization in this country.

We were wondering if anyone has worked or knows someone who worked without an EAD and what happened in the process? Considering how long it takes USCIS to process paperwork, it makes me doubt they would ever find out.

Would the government forgive working illegally if it was only for a short time and small amount of money? What about circumstances where someone really needed to bring income to help their family? Would it really be so bad.

I know you might be thinking...DON'T DO IT, IT'S ILLEGAL, but I want to know from experience what really could happen, not what the US threatens they will do. It makes me so mad that millions work illegally here without penalty (they even file tax returns sometimes!) and my husband who came here legally and has waited so long has to prolong his unemployment even further.

Thank you for your thoughts and responses.

What I can't understand is for someone to go thru the immigration process with all of its ups and downs, waiting, waiting, waiting, stressing, stressing, stressing, to ask this question!!!

It's illegal no matter how you look at it. You will just have to wait for his authorization. Final and simple.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

An currently MOST employers make one fill out the I-9

This is true, but few verify that the name and ss# match. I think it would be foolish for someone who is here legally to risk working without authorization. Just wait until the EAD arrives.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

If you KNOW it is going to be illegal then why risk it?

As Len said: Seriously?

I know!

I can't believe someone would be so stupid as to go through the visa process and then ** it up for not waiting for EAD to arrive. That is plain moronic.

[Boiler 45,549]

Because the defintion of working is so broad, technically I doubt if there is anyone waiting for EAD who has not worked.

[Jon&Lindsey 0]

Because the defintion of working is so broad, technically I doubt if there is anyone waiting for EAD who has not worked.

Applying for a job without EAD and KNOWING that it is illegal is a pretty blatant form of working. I agree with the others, why take this risk now when you are doing everything else legally, and know that soon you will be able to legally work??

[Old Dominion 26]

Here is my question. If we are waiting for the EAD and my husband is offered a job and decided to work in the meantime, would there be any penalty or consequence?

Of course, it would be illegal, but you would be surprised how many employers do not check the immigration status of their employees. There are millions who work without authorization in this country.

We were wondering if anyone has worked or knows someone who worked without an EAD and what happened in the process? Considering how long it takes USCIS to process paperwork, it makes me doubt they would ever find out.

Would the government forgive working illegally if it was only for a short time and small amount of money? What about circumstances where someone really needed to bring income to help their family? Would it really be so bad.

I know you might be thinking...DON'T DO IT, IT'S ILLEGAL, but I want to know from experience what really could happen, not what the US threatens they will do. It makes me so mad that millions work illegally here without penalty (they even file tax returns sometimes!) and my husband who came here legally and has waited so long has to prolong his unemployment even further.

Thank you for your thoughts and responses.

Assuming everything is in order, he'll have the EAD within 90 days of applying. No matter what, it's best to wait. It's not worth the risk, not to mention the fact of just being dishonest to begin with. Dishonesty is no casual matter.

[mkg265 2]

Devil's Advocate:

Chances of him getting caught, slim to none (unless he works in a profession that is raided a lot like construction or hospitality). No one asks for documentation for interning (a form of volunteering) i.e he could ask his employer to withhold his pay till he gets his EAD. Its dishonest and in the gray area but its possible.