Regular job on a B1/B2

[chouffe 0]

Hello everyone!

I'm a student from Belgium and currently in my 3rd year of law school. It has always been a dream of mine to live in the US and maybe one day I'll try to move permanently. But for now I got this plan to temporarily (preferably 1 year but I know 6 months is more likely to happen) move to California after graduation (I'll be 23/24 by then) to have this kind of 'gap year' before really starting to build a career and starting 'adulthood.'

Over the years I've accumulated a fair amount of savings so 'surviving' shouldn't be a problem, but I'd rather not touch my savings. So without further ado, here is my question:

Are you allowed to get a regular job on a B1/B2, probably not much higher than minimum wage (like a waiter or bartender...) to be able to pay for rent and other expensens? (while having access to the savings in case of emergency). Or is there another visa more suitable?

Also, I already have a B2 from visiting the states like 2 years ago. Does that change anything?

Finally, even if I get a B1/B2 and I'm allowed to work, how realistic is all of this? Will they let me pass at the airport or will they think I'm not prepared or too young or maybe think that I want to stay permanently?

Thanks!

Edited February 21, 2016 by chouffe

[Transborderwife 4,666]

No

[Boiler 45,949]

No

[R2B 2]

Just wonder is there any working holiday visa in US?

I found on wiki US does offer that

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_holiday_visa

[aleful 1,905]

hi

no, it is a fraud to work on a tourist visa,

to work here, you would have to find a company who is willing to sponsor you

[Avery Cates 1,141]

Hello everyone!

I'm a student from Belgium and currently in my 3rd year of law school. It has always been a dream of mine to live in the US and maybe one day I'll try to move permanently. But for now I got this plan to temporarily (preferably 1 year but I know 6 months is more likely to happen) move to California after graduation (I'll be 23/24 by then) to have this kind of 'gap year' before really starting to build a career and starting 'adulthood.'

Over the years I've accumulated a fair amount of savings so 'surviving' shouldn't be a problem, but I'd rather not touch my savings. So without further ado, here is my question:

Are you allowed to get a regular job on a B1/B2, probably not much higher than minimum wage (like a waiter or bartender...) to be able to pay for rent and other expensens? (while having access to the savings in case of emergency). Or is there another visa more suitable?

Also, I already have a B2 from visiting the states like 2 years ago. Does that change anything?

Finally, even if I get a B1/B2 and I'm allowed to work, how realistic is all of this? Will they let me pass at the airport or will they think I'm not prepared or too young or maybe think that I want to stay permanently?

Thanks!

Tourist Visa does not allow for any type of working. It's not what it's for.

[Illiria 980]

Just wonder is there any working holiday visa in US?

I found on wiki US does offer that

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_holiday_visa

The link you posted only says it's available for Canadians under the use of SWAP or for the Exchange Visitor Pilot Programs (J-1) allows a stay of up to 2 year in the U.S. and is available to citizens of Australia, Ireland, South Korea, and New Zealand. So would not be of use to the OP who is from Belgium.

OP: Maybe look to Australia or New Zealand who do have working holiday visas or look to join a company in Belgium who have offices in the us as well and work for them for a few years and then about getting a transfer, this requires you to have worked for the company for a certain number of years before the transfer.

[JFH 12,191]

Or take advantage of the freedom of movement in the EU and go to another EU country. If it's good weather you're after, how about Italy? If it's an English-speaking country you want, how about Ireland or the UK?

[Boiler 45,949]

J1 is not that limited, think they are talking about one variant. I know someone who is getting J1 staff in for the summer.

[Avery Cates 1,141]

J1 is not that limited, think they are talking about one variant. I know someone who is getting J1 staff in for the summer.

They're more common than most people think.

See them working in a lot of restaurants and hotels/motels in the summers, depending on the area.

[Illiria 980]

J1 is not that limited, think they are talking about one variant. I know someone who is getting J1 staff in for the summer.

Cool - is it limited to certain countries like the vwp?

[caliliving 606]

are you currently in the USA doing law school? Then once you graduate you get a year work permit... if not, you can get some experience and apply to companies online depending on your experience ect and see if you can get an H1B. but that can be tough.. lots of starving lawyers in the USA and especially in LA haha

[chouffe 0]

Or take advantage of the freedom of movement in the EU and go to another EU country. If it's good weather you're after, how about Italy? If it's an English-speaking country you want, how about Ireland or the UK?

Yes if there's no way to make the US-plan happen I'll definitely do that

J1 is not that limited, think they are talking about one variant. I know someone who is getting J1 staff in for the summer.

They're more common than most people think.

See them working in a lot of restaurants and hotels/motels in the summers, depending on the area.

Hey, I just researched the J1 summer work visa and it seems to be a possibility. But I have some questions (I know I should post this in the other thread but maybe you know the answers).

In the official requirements it states that you have to be currently enrolled in some kind of higher education institution. But I've also seen people talk about being recently enrolled. So is it possible to do right after graduation? At the time of applying I would still be enrolled, but when leaving for the US I would be graduated. Or does that make them think I wouldn't want to return to my home country?

Also, is it a fixed period? Like from may to august or something like that, or can I choose the 4-month period myself?

Thanks!

are you currently in the USA doing law school? Then once you graduate you get a year work permit... if not, you can get some experience and apply to companies online depending on your experience ect and see if you can get an H1B. but that can be tough.. lots of starving lawyers in the USA and especially in LA haha

No unfortunately I'm not. I'll keep that possibility in mind!

[mallafri76 1,012]

The J1 is pretty common in the service industry. Many hotel chains have a J1 program, e.g. Marriott and Hilton. You can find it on their websites.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Or you could try the lottery..