freelance work or internship while waiting for work permit

[Luxylux 0]

Hi everyone,

So I have my visa and my one-way ticket for end of December (exciiiiiting) and some money saved up for the months during when I won’t be able to work.

I have a question though: I currently work full time and as a freelance on the side for a company based in California. The company is excited to know that I’m going to be moving to LA and they would love to carry on working with me once I’m in the US.

I’m currently invoicing them through elance.com (paid on my UK account) and my question is: is it possible to carry on working as freelance while waiting for my work permit? (“Possible” as in “legal”, of course) Could someone point me in the direction of the legal texts/websites/anything official on the matter?

Also, I would love to do an unpaid internship in January, would that be allowed?(same thing, I've read everything and the opposite on the subject so if anyone has official links to provide that would be great)

Thanks a lot for your help!

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Doesn't sound legal to me but I'm no expert.

[Boiler 45,558]

Illegal work is forgiven for want of a better word when adjusting through marriage.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I looked for official documentation once and I believe there isn't any spelled out in black and white. I found an article on the subject where they interviewed prominent immigration attorneys and posed similar questions. Six said yes and six had equally good points against based on their interpretation of law. I think it is a "don't ask, don't tell" kind of thing. I don't really know who would know or call you on it. They know we have illegals, but they aren't pulling them off the streets. My illegal yard guy files $200k income tax for his business every year.

[Boiler 45,558]

My illegal yard guy files $200k income tax for his business every year.

I will cut your grass for less than that.

[Luxylux 0]

I looked for official documentation once and I believe there isn't any spelled out in black and white. I found an article on the subject where they interviewed prominent immigration attorneys and posed similar questions. Six said yes and six had equally good points against based on their interpretation of law. I think it is a "don't ask, don't tell" kind of thing. I don't really know who would know or call you on it. They know we have illegals, but they aren't pulling them off the streets. My illegal yard guy files $200k income tax for his business every year.

That's what I thought, I can't find anything clear one way or the other. Thanks a lot!

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to Working & Traveling During US Immigration - topic is working ~