B1/B2 Will Do?

[lynnf 0]

Indeed, there is an ambiguity here. I don't understand what defines 'work'.

 

I already have some coaching clients (over Zoom) from Malaysia who have paid their yearly coaching fees to me. They are Malaysian residing in Malaysia.  

 

Whether or not I'm in Malaysia, they might want to reach me.

 

Does that mean I cannot answer their calls, or conduct any Zoom session with them when I'm on vacation in USA?

 

 

[African Zealot 1,455]

6 hours ago, lynnf said:

How about while I'm staying at my boyfriend's home in US, can I do Zoom (paid services)??

One thing we got to give you, you’re persistent! 😁

[lynnf 0]

...So, when I'm on vacation in US, i cannot answer Malaysian Clients' calls? 

 

That means, I also cannot reply to Malaysian Clients' emails?  If I do so, that would mean, I'm 'working' illegally while in US?  

 

Do you have the answer to this?  

[African Zealot 1,455]

You can. Don’t worry about that at all.
 

7 minutes ago, lynnf said:

...So, when I'm on vacation in US, i cannot answer Malaysian Clients' calls? 

 

That means, I also cannot reply to Malaysian Clients' emails?  If I do so, that would mean, I'm 'working' illegally while in US?  

 

Do you have the answer to this?  

 

[lynnf 0]

Haha...but, you see, why for this, I can?

I thought I am not allowed to 'work' while I am in US on B1/B2. Those are Clients' calls and emails, it's a paid service, regardless what nationalities they are, I thought. 

 

That's why I said I don't understand what defines 'work'.

[AnnaCa 63]

6 minutes ago, lynnf said:

Haha...but, you see, why for this, I can?

I thought I am not allowed to 'work' while I am in US on B1/B2. Those are Clients' calls and emails, it's a paid service, regardless what nationalities they are, I thought. 

 

That's why I said I don't understand what defines 'work'.

When you are in the US on a B1/B2 you can not work. No in-person working, no remote working, no working period. Answering a couple of work calls while on vacation is not the same as conducting actual work while being in the US. You are trying to find a way around these rules. There are none. Get a work visa or an immigrant visa, and you can work as much as your heart desires. 

[Rocio0010 5,579]

9 hours ago, lynnf said:

spark ideas

Aka trying to get around rules and loopholes to work in the US…

Are you sure you cannot tell the difference between answering emails and phone calls from your Malaysian employers vs being in charge of a training for New York customers?

[Redro 4,611]

2 hours ago, lynnf said:

Haha...but, you see, why for this, I can?

I thought I am not allowed to 'work' while I am in US on B1/B2. Those are Clients' calls and emails, it's a paid service, regardless what nationalities they are, I thought. 

 

That's why I said I don't understand what defines 'work'.

Tell CBP you are planning to work "just a little" when you arrive. 

Tell them the nature of your work and see what happens. 

 

You are going to the US primarily to see your boyfriend and vacation. 

Most people on vacation don't want to work. They want to relax.

Sounds like you want to live and work in the US.

You should either have your boyfriend petition you for a family based visa

Or research work visas. 

[Mike E 11,739]

5 hours ago, lynnf said:

I appreciate all the replies in this thread. I suppose I don't understand the meaning of 'work'. 

(My reason of going to US is to be with Boyfriend in one locality)  

 

One of the respondents said even conducting a training over Zoom (while at Boyfriend's home in US) is not allowed.  Now this has brought me to asking if I could pull out my laptop while at Boyfriend's home in US to do any work at all, such as writing articles, editing videos for my weekly You Tube Channel..?

 

If it's no, then I suppose I cannot work on writing my book on my laptop while I'm staying at Boyfriend's home as well?

 

Thank you.

https://fam.state.gov/FAM/09FAM/09FAM040202.html

 

“

9 FAM 402.2-5(G)(3)  (U) Still Photographers

(CT:VISA-1288;   05-21-2021) 

(U) DHS permits still photographers to enter the United States with B-1 visas for the purpose of taking photographs if they receive no income from a U.S. source.

9 FAM 402.2-5(G)(4)  (U) Musicians

(CT:VISA-1288;   05-21-2021

(U) An applicant musician may be issued a B-1 visa, provided:

(1)  (U) The musician is coming to the United States in order to utilize recording facilities for recording purposes only;

(2)  (U) The recording will be distributed and sold only outside the United States; and

(3)  (U) No public performances will be given.

9 FAM 402.2-5(G)(5)  (U) Artists

(CT:VISA-288;   02-22-2017)

(U) An artist coming to the United States to paint, sculpt, etc. who is not under contract with a U.S. employer and who does not intend to regularly sell such artwork in the United States.”

 

One could arguably extend this to writing as literature is an art form. If this writing is in say the Malay language you’d have a stronger argument that  these works of art are not regularly sold in the USA. However you admit to having clients in the USA so I suspect you will lose the argument. 
 

Do you understand what losing the argument means in practical terms? If not see: 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, lynnf said:

Haha...but, you see, why for this, I can?

I thought I am not allowed to 'work' while I am in US on B1/B2. Those are Clients' calls and emails, it's a paid service, regardless what nationalities they are, I thought. 

 

That's why I said I don't understand what defines 'work'.

Business meetings and business communications are generally not considered work. An exception might be if one had a job with primary  duty of taking meetings or doing communications. So for examine your job was that of George Clooney character in Up Ib The Air who is paid by companies to fire their employees. His meetings with his victims would be work. I’d sure hate to fill out his tax returns … he have tax returns across dozens of states. 
 

I traveled the world for business for decades.  Never once did I work outside my state of residence. I did however have lots of business meetings. And when asked a port of entry what the purpose of my trip was, I said “business meetings”.  I was never denied entry.  And I never received  an out of state tax bill. 

Edited May 21, 2022 by Mike E

[igoyougoduke 1,652]

4 hours ago, lynnf said:

Haha...but, you see, why for this, I can?

I thought I am not allowed to 'work' while I am in US on B1/B2. Those are Clients' calls and emails, it's a paid service, regardless what nationalities they are, I thought. 

 

That's why I said I don't understand what defines 'work'.

iam sure you will understand when you get a 10 year ban for working without authorization 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

7 hours ago, lynnf said:

Can someone please enlighten me... it says B1 Visa allows you to negotiate contract. 

Negotiating a contract for paid services is allowed? 

Why is this allowed?

 

 

 

Did you even bother to read the link I posted for you? It explains it perfectly well. The negotiations happen in the US but the work gets done and paid for outside the US.

[doshi8000 19]

Troll sleeping in the basement in Iowa playing pranks

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

13 minutes ago, doshi8000 said:

Troll sleeping in the basement in Iowa playing pranks

That thought was beginning to come into my head 

[aaron2020 11,651]

13 hours ago, lynnf said:

Thank you for your response. 

 

I go to US often cos' my boyfriend is American. That is why I asked this to see if there's a way I could legally kill two birds at one go, rather than just be there (staying at home in US) most of the time. 

 

I appreciate all the discussion in this thread as all answers do spark ideas and give clarity. 

 

How about while I'm staying at my boyfriend's home in US, can I do Zoom (paid services)??

 

How many time do I have to say this.

 

YOU CAN NOT LEGALLY WORK WHILE IN THE US FOR ANY REASON.  DON"T CARE IF YOU ARE BORED AT HOME STAYING WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND.

 

Do stupid things and win stupid prizes.  Go ahead and make a little money.  Have your visitor visa revoked.  Enjoy expedited deportation.  Enjoy a ban from the US.  Enjoy your boyfriend needing a waiver in order for you to immigrate to the US.

 

Yeah.  A little money is worth the risk.

Trying to help you and you don't get it.  

[aaron2020 11,651]

8 hours ago, lynnf said:

I appreciate all the replies in this thread. I suppose I don't understand the meaning of 'work'. 

(My reason of going to US is to be with Boyfriend in one locality)  

 

One of the respondents said even conducting a training over Zoom (while at Boyfriend's home in US) is not allowed.  Now this has brought me to asking if I could pull out my laptop while at Boyfriend's home in US to do any work at all, such as writing articles, editing videos for my weekly You Tube Channel..?

 

If it's no, then I suppose I cannot work on writing my book on my laptop while I'm staying at Boyfriend's home as well?

 

Thank you.

Work = anything that someone could get paid for even if you don't get paid. 

YOU CAN ZOOM FROM OUTSIDE THE US.  YOU CAN NOT ZOOM AND WORK WHILE IN THE US.

 

Pretend when you get to the US that you are on vacation like you are suppose to be with a US visitor visa.  People who have visitor visas are not allowed to work INSIDE THE US.  

 

You can write your book.  No one cares.  You can not sell your services while in the US.