can I work via laptop for Canadian clients while in the US with AOS or CR-1 pending?

[TimandJoyce 1]

I personally can't see how it would be a problem. How many times has one visited the US and withdrew money from a bank machine? Why would it matter when the money was deposited into that account in Canada? You are not allowed to work in the US for a US company and take away a job from a citizen or LPR. Thats why the law is in place. Not to prevent people from visiting and working for their Canadian employer remotely. That would kind of end a lot of business trips.

hmmmmmm good point. Not that I know all those legal sides to all that. Wouldn't it *almost* be the same as say...someone receiving child support or government benefits from their own country?

Definitely give them a call, Simmy. *Slowly kicking herself for not seeing if she could have worked online for a Canadian company or something before she left!*

Edited July 29, 2010 by TimandJoyce

[Simmy 3]

Hi folks.... I

just wanted to follow-up. I decided to call the Dep't of State based on your advice. I couldn't find an actual number to call from their website and ended up calling USCIS and asking them. They couldn't give me any legally conclusive answer -- indeed her answer basically confirmed what we've been saying in this thread. She said since I'm working for a Canadian company it shouldn't really matter, but she couldn't give me a definite legal answer. The good thing is I recorded the call, so it can serve at least somewhat as a backup should it come to that at any point.

My overall impression of this question is thus: the law is behind the technology and they don't really know *how* to deal with a situation like this, even though they surely will be increasing over time, thus it falls under grey legal area. I sense that if I was to work here for a few months at a time via laptop for clients in Canada while visiting while either awaiting my CR-1 interview or AOS interview, it would not likely be a problem -- in the case of the AOS process, it would depend more on what visa I'm here on, and in that case I might be more cautious.

If I was to work here for say the full 6 months of a visit, then I think it might be a bit more of an issue.

But all in all, truth be told, I'm settling on this being a grey area, and heeding that in my approach to things.

Thanks all for your responses. Perhaps this thread will serve as a spot where other people can contribute their experiences around this over time.

Simmy