Can I work for a foreign company before I get EAD? PLEASE HELP ^_^

[phoebe.shen13 0]

Hi everyone:

I have some tricky questions. If you guys have a clue please help

I am in the US on K1 visa. Last week we just mailed out paper work of AOS. I will not get my EAD until probably three months later. During this time, is it legal for me to work for a non-us company and be paid by paypal in USD?Technically I am not employed by a US company. If that risky, is it legal for me to work for a Taiwanese company and they transfer my pay in RMB into a Chinese bank?

It is very tricky. But my husband and I need more income to survive. Since I cannot work before the EAD, it is very difficult for us. We would really appreciate your help on these questions.

Thanks in advance

[JohnR! 5,495]

You can work, as you would from home. So long as you don't get paid in the US, nor do work for a US company you are fine.

[aaron2020 11,651]

No. You are not authorized to work in the US. Even though the job is online with a foreign employer, you are not authorized to work in the US.

Where would you do the work from? You would do the work from inside the US.

[phoebe.shen13 0]

You can work, as you would from home. So long as you don't get paid in the US, nor do work for a US company you are fine.

Thanks for your help.

Does that mean I can work for the company, but they cannot pay me in USD by palpay ? To be legal, they have to pay me in Chinese currency?

[aaron2020 11,651]

Thanks for your help.

Does that mean I can work for the company, but they cannot pay me in USD by palpay ? To be legal, they have to pay me in Chinese currency?

No.

It doesn't matter how you get paid.

Work is work.

All getting paid in RMB is good for is to avoid reporting your income on US tax returns as required.

Think logically. Why should how you get paid change the nature the work you do? Is it not work because you got paid a different way? No.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Thanks for your help.

Does that mean I can work for the company, but they cannot pay me in USD by palpay ? To be legal, they have to pay me in Chinese currency?

So that you are not breaking the law your contract with them cannot be in the US, nor can you derive your income in USD. So long as the contract is in Taiwan you are fine. My presumption here is that you would be working from home, and not reporting to work in an office here in the US everyday. Is that correct?

[aaron2020 11,651]

So that you are not breaking the law your contract with them cannot be in the US, nor can you derive your income in USD. So long as the contract is in Taiwan you are fine. My presumption here is that you would be working from home, and not reporting to work in an office here in the US everyday. Is that correct?

Why does working from home matter vs working in an office?

The work is being done in the US regardless.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based to Working & Traveling During US Immigration ~

[aussie_jason 195]

This is a gray area for sure and I think you would need an immigration attorney to give you the right answer. I know during my L1's & E3's that I was advised not to do similar income producing activities like setup as a YouTube partner using an Australian based account so I would be very cautious. Now excuse me while I go sulk in the corner remembering all the missed opportunities.... Thankfully that will soon be a thing of the past though and I will soon have income producing freedom!