US without a visa?

nobodythere

I was looking at this visa waiver program for going to the US. It means that I can't work over in the US from what I gather.

I seem to meet all the requirements but I'm afraid of a bit of a technicality: I work an online job and was hoping to do that over there. I'd be getting paid into my bank account. How do I find out if that excludes me from the programme?

kaimera

You need a visa to work.

The waiver program is for holiday type travel.

Ponster

Yep. You can't just go to the USA and look for a job without a work visa.

You can always try to have an American company employ you while in Ireland, they apply for the visa before you go over.

Benedict XVI

Here are the only ways you can work legally in America

1. Get a Green Card through the DV Visa Lottery – Only a handful of these given to Irish people these days (162), details at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html
2. Get a H1 Visa – US company gives you a job and gets you a work permit
3. J1 – Are you a student?
4. L1 – I think this is where you transfer in your job to the US
5. Marry and American and get a Green Card

H2G2

You can also apply for a Business Visa – class B1 if I remember correctly. It allows you to get paid in your home country, as long as you don’t work for or with a US employer. But the definition of ‘business’ and ‘work’ is limited and strict.
You don’t give enough information to judge, but it sounds like you would not qualify for the visa waiver programme.

nobodythere

Thanks for the replies, I didn't explain properly.

I meant that I work online for a company on contract. It's an Irish division of the company, and I'd be getting paid into my irish bank account.

A few of my friends are going on the J1, but I can't do that because I've already booked my flight over to America.

I could just not tell them about the job but I'm afraid that I'd be refused entry because I'm going for two months and upon leaving won't have enough funds in my bank account to last me two months.

I do have in my favour that I'd have payed for accommodation for the whole summer by the time we get over there

So as I see it my options are:
1. Try to get a J1 visa myself and find a job over there.
2. Find a visa that will let me do that job over there

Any advice?

jhegarty

They don't check your bank account when going on the visa waver....

If you employed in Ireland then there won't be an issue... you can travel for business on the 90 days visa waver (I do this myself visiting my employers US office).....

K!LL!@N

The visa waiver covers you for 90 days, you're only going for around 60 days.
If your accommodation is paid for and you have some proof of this, bring it.
You obviously have your return flight information ticket or e-ticket, bring that also.

Just don't mention anything about you working while you're there.
As you said, everything is done online so they have no way of knowing.

They may ask you about money to spend while you're there but I don't ever remember being required to prove how much I had.
Have some cash/travellers cheques on you and just say the rest is on your credit card or you'll be using your ATM/Debit card the rest of the time.

nobodythere

Thanks, great advice

nobodythere

Hi,
one more question about this. The I-94 form that I need to do the Visa waiver, it says on the embassy sites that you get it from the transport carrier (i.e. the airline?). Do I have to send away for this or do I do it at check-in or what?

Spud83

grasshopa wrote: »

Hi,
one more question about this. The I-94 form that I need to do the Visa waiver, it says on the embassy sites that you get it from the transport carrier (i.e. the airline?). Do I have to send away for this or do I do it at check-in or what?

For the visa waiver you get all the forms when you check in at the airport. Its only one small slip for the visa waiver and a customs slip.

Boom_Bap

You get the form in customs.

Just tell the customs officials that you will NOT be working or looking for work.
Say you are going on vacation. Visiting family and friends.
You will be returning to your current job when you return to Ireland.
I've never been asked if I am carrying enough cash.
Have an address of where you will be staying, if you leave that blank on the form they start asking questions.....i done it once, not a pleasant experience.

You've nothing to worry about.

Spud83

Boom_Bap wrote: »

Just dont tell the customs officials that you will NOT be working or looking for work.

Think this needs an edit too

Just tell the customs officals that you will NOT be working or looking for work.

Ruu_Old

The green I-94 slip will be attached to your passport and stamped, the white customs form will be handed into US Customs when you land. When you depart the US, makes sure that the ticket agent takes the green I-94 from your passport.

nobodythere

Thanks everyone

bazzman

im thinkin of goin to san diego and makin my way up to canada without working, prob go for bout 7-8 weeks, and was wondering would i need some sort of a visa for it??

lynchie

Visa waiver program for US, nothing needed but your passport to enter Canada assuming your an EU citizen.