Working In America

BillyGoatGruff

Straightforward enough question for ye. Is it possible for me to work in the USA legally without a green-card. I am not a student. I am pretty sure it is not possible but someone may have a workaround.

Many thanks

avalon68

You could apply for a visa - if someone over there is willing to hire you they can sponsor you for a J1 visa. It could be difficult to achieve this depending on your backround/skill set though, especially in a recession where they are more likely to hire fellow Americans

Head The Wall

Used to be able to swing it with a Tax ID number and pay taxes, gave you some breathing space although still not technically legal. If you were ever picked up you could show that you were making a contribution.

Loophole pretty much closed now as people got the ID niumber and then didn't pay their taxes. Booo

universe777

avalon68 wrote: »

You could apply for a visa - if someone over there is willing to hire you they can sponsor you for a J1 visa. It could be difficult to achieve this depending on your backround/skill set though, especially in a recession where they are more likely to hire fellow Americans

Sponsor him for a J1 eh? Do you even know what a J1 visa is? It's a 4 month visa for students to go work there. No sponsorship needed.

OP, to answer your question, as you are not American, you will need a visa to work in the USA.

To anyone thinking of winging it without a visa, remember those 2 Irish students who overstayed their J1? They were caught on a train and sent to jail until they were deported.

lonestargirl

Your only possible options are:

1) Diversity Visa Lottery: an annual lottery for greencards that Irish citizens are eligible for. The 2010 lottery closed in Nov 09 and the 2011 one should open some time during the summer. Not a short-term solution but something to keep in mind

2) Studying in the US: if you have a degree it may be possible to get a funded postgraduate place. You won't able to work outside your uni and you won't be rich but it's a chance to live in the US.

3) H1B Visa: for skilled workers, you get a job and the employer sponsors you. The employer must show that they can't get an American to do the job and the main fields where this applies would be healthcare, university research/lecturing, specialised engineering/IT.

Catmologen

Or marry an American. I think they have some kind of defacto/engaged visa as well.

avalon68

universe777 wrote: »

Sponsor him for a J1 eh? Do you even know what a J1 visa is? It's a 4 month visa for students to go work there. No sponsorship needed.

I most certainly do know what it is - It is an exchange programme visa....NOT a student visa. I have one and am not a student, nor am I restricted to 4 months and I am sponsored. Maybe you should check your facts! AND, the J1 visa that students utilise to go for 4 months is indeed sponsored by the company you hand over that nice big fee to!