Telecommuting

[Rico Tijsen 0]

Hi all,

While I'm not in an visa process (yet), I do travel to my girlfriend in the US a lot (every 2 or 3 months). Of course I am glad that I can afford this but the immigration officers always give me a hard time when they ask about my job.

I'm a freelance software engineer and my current projects don't mind at all if I work from the US every now and again. Financially I can support myself by not working while being in the US, but taking a vacation every time makes me feel lazy. So, my real question is: If I tell the officer at the border that I telecommute, can they make a problem of that? I really prefer not to lie to these people, they're grumpy enough already.

Some details:

- I'm a dutch citizen

- I enter on the visa waiver program

- I usually stay 2 or 3 weeks, but could (and want to) stay longer

Thanks,

Rico

[YuAndDan 153]

If you bring a laptop with you it is understood that you may do some work like email, write papers, ect.. It is not like you are working at a multinational company with an office in the USA that would require a work visa.

You can be honest at the POE if they ask what you will do with your computer just let them know you may do some work on a project that you have been working on back at the office, but your are not doing any business in the USA or working for a U.S. company.

I traveled to Scotland a few years ago and the question never came up, I used my laptop computer while there to check my office email, so I did a little work while visiting Scotland.

OK that is my two cents worth, honesty is the best policy.