Friend hoping her husband can be in the country with her...

[nica 5]

It's not illegal to look for work on a non-immigrant visa. Please provide a citation for your conclusion that it is.

I can't prove a negative that it is not illegal to look for work on a non-immigrant visa because Congress does not often make laws saying things are not illegal. Generally, Congress makes laws saying certain acts are illegal.

For example; There is no US law that either permits or prohibit dual citizenship. Since the law is silent, US citizens can have dual citizenship. As far as the US is concern, US citizens with other citizens are only US citizens and are treated as such.

Similarly, if the US has no laws on whether a visitor visa holder is permitted or prohibited from looking for a job. Since the law is silent, a visitor visa holder can look for a job. The law is very clear that the visitor cannot work. There is nothing about looking for a job.

At the POE, a non-immigrant visa holder who disclose that he/she is coming to look for permanent employment is unlikely to be admitted because the burden to prove not having an immigrant intent is on the visitor. Looking for a permanent job is in conflict with the notion of no immigrant intent. However, once the person is admitted, there is no law that say he/she cannot talk to potential employers.

My interpretation of what you're saying here is that as long as you tell the POE officer that you're not looking for work, it's fine to look for work while on a tourist visa. Somehow that seems unlikely...