Illegal Irish?

Danny911

Was just wondering what the view on them in America is, and how they actually get away with working abroad illegally in construction etc.

A friend of mine's relative went bout a year ago and is still there working, but he doesn't talk to him so he doesn't know himself.

Can one get sponsored by an employer and apply for citizenship like Australia if you get a visa? Or what's the story.

silja

Most Americans have a pretty dim view of illegals, especially now the economy is bad so "they are taking away jobs from citizens". Of course, there are always employers who are willing to exploit illegals by paying them a pittance. Boards.ie does not condone or support illegal activity, so people aren't going to explain to you how "they actually get away with working abroad illegally" in construction or elsewhere

Work visas can be gotten, though not normally in constructions, unless you have some special skills. Most work visas require you to have a Masters or equivalent in specialised skills and experience, and the employer who sponsors you has to prove that they cannot find an American to do the job. Some work visas lead to a greencard, and after 5 years of being a greencard holder, you can become a citizen. Most work visas are temporary for a few months or years, and people will have to return abroad afterwards.

Black Swan

silja wrote: »

Boards.ie does not condone or support illegal activity, so people aren't going to explain to you how "they actually get away with working abroad illegally" in construction or elsewhere

Agree. A very important point.

rockonollie

It's true that there are irish working here illegally.....and americans really take a dim view on them......but the irish make up a very small percentage of the overall illegal immigrant problems over here, so go mostly unnoticed compared to hispanic or middle eastern immigrants.

dave2pvd

rockonollie wrote: »

It's true that there are irish working here illegally.....and americans really take a dim view on them......but the irish make up a very small percentage of the overall illegal immigrant problems over here, so go mostly unnoticed compared to hispanic or middle eastern immigrants.

I agree. In fact, I'd wager that to most Americans, 'illegal immigrants' are 'brown people from South of the border'.

I've been in conversations with more rural-type folk here and the conversation has turned to 'immigrants'. The comments wouldn't be complimentary, mind you. All the while I'm standing there and it hasn't crossed the participant's mind that I am an immigrant!

rockonollie

dave2pvd wrote: »

I agree. In fact, I'd wager that to most Americans, 'illegal immigrants' are 'brown people from South of the border'.

I've been in conversations with more rural-type folk here and the conversation has turned to 'immigrants'. The comments wouldn't be complimentary, mind you. All the while I'm standing there and it hasn't crossed the participant's mind that I am an immigrant!

I have the same thing happen to me all the time....in fact, I once called someone out while they were bashing immigrants and told them I was an immigrant......their response was, "you're not an immigrant, you're irish"

Auvers

dave2pvd wrote: »

All the while I'm standing there and it hasn't crossed the participant's mind that I am an immigrant!

don't matter you look and sound like a W.A.S.P, so that's all that counts

alphanine

Danny911 wrote: »

Was just wondering what the view on them in America is, and how they actually get away with working abroad illegally in construction etc.

A friend of mine's relative went bout a year ago and is still there working, but he doesn't talk to him so he doesn't know himself.

Can one get sponsored by an employer and apply for citizenship like Australia if you get a visa? Or what's the story.

There are plenty but mainly from the 80s and 90s. Americans don't really see the Irish as an illegal immigrant problem, we integrate well and are open and hard working.

I felt very welcome and Americans had a very positive view on us as a people. That really helps when looking for a job, unless its a hispanic employer, the diddley eye doesn't work on them!

The opportunities I got in the US I seriously would doubt I would get in Ireland.

Aprilmay

It depends were you live, where we are you need to show your greencard or visa to get a driving licence. You have to have a valid state licence within 60 days of moving here.We only moved and have got greencard and the trouble we had setting up accommodation, Bank accounts,buying cars had to show our residency etc, I honestly don't know how people could live in our state and get by illegally.

rockonollie

To answer your question about getting citizenship.....you can apply for US citizenship after living here legally for 5 years.....or 3 years if you are married to a US citizen

jluv

Aprilmay wrote: »

It depends were you live, where we are you need to show your greencard or visa to get a driving licence. You have to have a valid state licence within 60 days of moving here.We only moved and have got greencard and the trouble we had setting up accommodation, Bank accounts,buying cars had to show our residency etc, I honestly don't know how people could live in our state and get by illegally.

Americans in general will absolutly love you if you are Irish. I found it a massive plus in any job I worked in. However the legal side of things are not easy. I worked,paid taxes,was married to an american and still got refused citizenship. They said I did'nt respond to a letter they sent.Trust me I wanted it so much I would have. Anyhow I found you don't argue with the government there. So i reccomend you have your papers in order but as far as the people go,they don't see Irish people the same as others..

dlofnep

I found Americans look on immigrants in two ways. One is against Immigrants who do not integrate into the American view of life. This is their biggest pet peeve. The other is towards immigrants of Western European origins, that integrate and come from a decent education - they don't seem too bothered about these.

I lived in Michigan for a while and they had no problem with me. I was basically seen as 'Irish-American'.

Aprilmay

jluv wrote: »

Americans in general will absolutly love you if you are Irish. I found it a massive plus in any job I worked in. However the legal side of things are not easy. I worked,paid taxes,was married to an american and still got refused citizenship. They said I did'nt respond to a letter they sent.Trust me I wanted it so much I would have. Anyhow I found you don't argue with the government there. So i reccomend you have your papers in order but as far as the people go,they don't see Irish people the same as others..

We have a greencard and it was tough organising things especially as we don't have credit history but we did it, but I do think it would be harder without it. We've a big Irish community but everyone is legal and has said it would be difficult. For example we got our driving license using our rental car but it had a restriction on it ,(we didnt have our own insurance only rental) showed our greencard it had printed on the driving license we were government legals. We bought a car and went to DMV to change the license we didn't bring the greencard because it said we were legal, well they sent us home to get them and wouldn't remove the restriction until we showed them the card.Lots of jobs require you to have a driving license and public transport is terrible.

SHOVELLER

There is a lot of hypocrisy there as here about illegals. For example New York City would collapse without their work. Those who move furniture, cook, childmind, bartend etc.

The difference now and a decade ago for Irish illegals there is vast.

Hazys

SHOVELLER wrote: »

There is a lot of hypocrisy there as here about illegals. For example New York City would collapse without their work. Those who move furniture, cook, childmind, bartend etc.

The difference now and a decade ago for Irish illegals there is vast.

I highly doubt NYC would collapse if there were no illegals. Worst comes to worst they would hire americans and prices would go up, but not greatly.

Its not like the situation in Ireland where people were too good to work in fast food restaurants. America has a lot of unemployed and the majority of the unemployed are not highly skilled so they would take the illegal's jobs to bartend, move funriture or childmind at minimum wage.

SHOVELLER

Hazys wrote: »

I highly doubt NYC would collapse if there were no illegals. Worst comes to worst they would hire americans and prices would go up, but not greatly.

Its not like the situation in Ireland where people were too good to work in fast food restaurants. America has a lot of unemployed and the majority of the unemployed are not highly skilled so they would take the illegal's jobs to bartend, move funriture or childmind at minimum wage.

If it was to happen overnight the city would be in serious trouble no doubt.

rockonollie

SHOVELLER wrote: »

If it was to happen overnight the city would be in serious trouble no doubt.

but it would never happen overnight......ICE have been "clamping down on illegals" for decades.....no matter how hard they try, illegals are coming in faster than they can deport them

Candidates in the election here are sprouting bs about introducing a system to stop people working illegally, where they would have to show a card to their employer before they could work........(if that's their idea for a new system, then what have people been using greencards for)

cena

rockonollie wrote: »

To answer your question about getting citizenship.....you can apply for US citizenship after living here legally for 5 years.....or 3 years if you are married to a US citizen

How would many irish live in the states legally when its hard for most to get a greencard to stay there

rockonollie

cena wrote: »

How would many irish live in the states legally when its hard for most to get a greencard to stay there

Just stand outside the embassy for a couple of days.....there are irish citizens getting approved for greencards and work visas every day.

SHOVELLER

rockonollie wrote: »

but it would never happen overnight......ICE have been "clamping down on illegals" for decades.....no matter how hard they try, illegals are coming in faster than they can deport them

Candidates in the election here are sprouting bs about introducing a system to stop people working illegally, where they would have to show a card to their employer before they could work........(if that's their idea for a new system, then what have people been using greencards for)

That is why I said if.

It is all down to employers really. Some are still paying cash.

cena

rockonollie wrote: »

Just stand outside the embassy for a couple of days.....there are irish citizens getting approved for greencards and work visas every day.

So your saying it's easy to get one. I understand getting for work etc.

rockonollie

cena wrote: »

So your saying it's easy to get one. I understand getting for work etc.

I'm not saying it's easy to get one, but people are getting them.

The day that I received my approval, there were 7 others in the embassy for the morning interviews, 6 of them were approved

cena

rockonollie wrote: »

I'm not saying it's easy to get one, but people are getting them.

The day that I received my approval, there were 7 others in the embassy for the morning interviews, 6 of them were approved

I know people are getting them. but like in the hundreds each week

Fr Tod Umptious

rockonollie wrote: »

but it would never happen overnight......ICE have been "clamping down on illegals" for decades.....no matter how hard they try, illegals are coming in faster than they can deport them

Candidates in the election here are sprouting bs about introducing a system to stop people working illegally, where they would have to show a card to their employer before they could work........(if that's their idea for a new system, then what have people been using greencards for)

I doubt they are.

If they wanted to they could call into any Irish pub in NY, Boston, Chicagio on a weekend and deport 75% of the people in there.

But they don't, cos the local police force (sate or city) and the local guys at the immigration service use the very same illegal Irish to roof their houses, build their extensions, mind their kids, server them coffee in the morning at the local shop etc.

Fair enough they setup immigration patrols on the interstates these days or they catch people who break the law but if you keep your head down and work away it's unlikely you will get caught in any sort of swoop or sting.

dave2pvd

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

I doubt they are.

If they wanted to they could call into any Irish pub in NY, Boston, Chicagio on a weekend and deport 75% of the people in there.

But they don't, cos the local police force (sate or city) and the local guys at the immigration service use the very same illegal Irish to roof their houses, build their extensions, mind their kids, server them coffee in the morning at the local shop etc.

Fair enough they setup immigration patrols on the interstates these days or they catch people who break the law but if you keep your head down and work away it's unlikely you will get caught in any sort of swoop or sting.

Not so sure about that. ICE workplace investigations have increased under the Obama admin, doubling between 2008 and 2010. Here in the Southeast, raids are typically in rural areas, where agriculture draws large numbers of illegals.

rockonollie

Unfortunately the big problem right now isn't that ICE is struggling to find illegals......the problem is that deportation procedures take far too long and the detention centers for those being processed are over capacity.

HavingCrack

dave2pvd wrote: »

Not so sure about that. ICE workplace investigations have increased under the Obama admin, doubling between 2008 and 2010. Here in the Southeast, raids are typically in rural areas, where agriculture draws large numbers of illegals.

There does seem to be a big North-South divide on this in the US. Illegals appear to be a lot more unpopular in the South and Southwest in particular than in the North East and Great Lakes regions.

Danny911

So employers actually employ Irish then illegaly and pay them cash? What happens if you get an empoloyer who pays into the bank, can you actually pay taxes if your illegal or would you need a pps sort of number and proof of residency

rockonollie

you can't pay taxes without a SSN.....and you can't get a SSN without a work visa

dave2pvd

Danny911 wrote: »

So employers actually employ Irish then illegaly and pay them cash? What happens if you get an empoloyer who pays into the bank, can you actually pay taxes if your illegal or would you need a pps sort of number and proof of residency

An employer hiring illegals won't do direct deposit. Remember, he/she could end up in jail for hiring illegals.

loconnor1001

Danny911 wrote: »

Was just wondering what the view on them in America is, and how they actually get away with working abroad illegally in construction etc.

A friend of mine's relative went bout a year ago and is still there working, but he doesn't talk to him so he doesn't know himself.

Can one get sponsored by an employer and apply for citizenship like Australia if you get a visa? Or what's the story.

I know people who have gone over and been for years, the problem is being illegal they can't go home for any reason what so ever or they won't be getting back in.

Everyone I know that has gone over illegally has known someone or known someone who knows someone that type of thing. Im pretty sure if you just land at JFK without a plan its not going to work out for you.

Personally Im American, my husband is Irish, when we were living over there just getting into the country was a pain because we didn't apply for his green card in Ireland. I know every state is different on their license requirements, where we lived you needed little more than proof of address, that was also 8 years ago so things have changed.

Also as for getting sponsored its very very very difficult because they make it extremely difficult for employers. Like someone else said you would have to have some sh%t hot qualification to get sponsored and even then its grasping for straws because the employer would have to prove that there was nobody else they could hire.

SHOVELLER

rockonollie wrote: »

you can't pay taxes without a SSN.....and you can't get a SSN without a work visa

Not true. There are illegals who pay taxes. One of the reasons given is if they are threatened with deportation they can say they have been contributing. Figures here:

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/87xx/doc8711/12-6-Immigration.pdf

loconnor1001 wrote: »

I know people who have gone over and been for years, the problem is being illegal they can't go home for any reason what so ever or they won't be getting back in.

Everyone I know that has gone over illegally has known someone or known someone who knows someone that type of thing. Im pretty sure if you just land at JFK without a plan its not going to work out for you.

Personally Im American, my husband is Irish, when we were living over there just getting into the country was a pain because we didn't apply for his green card in Ireland. I know every state is different on their license requirements, where we lived you needed little more than proof of address, that was also 8 years ago so things have changed.

Also as for getting sponsored its very very very difficult because they make it extremely difficult for employers. Like someone else said you would have to have some sh%t hot qualification to get sponsored and even then its grasping for straws because the employer would have to prove that there was nobody else they could hire.

If you had common sense and landed at JFK in the morning absolutely determined to find work you would be working within a week.

rockonollie

they pay taxes using fake SSN......taxes are filed based on SSN, payrolls are run using SSN........you can't pay taxes without one.....whether it actually belongs to you or not

lil_lisa

Not always. Once you get a visa you can obtain a social security number. That social security number is yours for life, however the visa isn't. I'm sure there are illegal immigrants who just continue to use this social security number with no visa.

rockonollie

rockonollie wrote: »

you can't pay taxes without a SSN.....and you can't get a SSN without a work visa

I'll just go ahead and quote myself......i never said that illegals don't pay taxes.....i said you can't pay taxes without a SSN and you can't get one without a work visa.

I never said that people don't legitimately get a SSN and then continute to use it and pay taxes after their visa expires.

loconnor1001

SHOVELLER wrote: »

Not true. There are illegals who pay taxes. One of the reasons given is if they are threatened with deportation they can say they have been contributing. Figures here:

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/87xx/doc8711/12-6-Immigration.pdf




If you had common sense and landed at JFK in the morning absolutely determined to find work you would be working within a week.

OP didn't mention common sense

Spread

In this neck of the woods the unemployment rate is 5.1% so I know a few illegals. If you're Caucasian (94% in NH) and don't get pulled for speeding etc ........ you would stay under the radar. You can drive for 12 months on an Irish licence here. Don't know about the employer exploiting re low wages etc. AFAIK they are getting the same as the other workers ....... it's just that the boss does not pay tax, ins, pension or holiday pay on their cash. I guess it works both ways ......... both would seem to benefit - once they are not twigged.
According to Immigration there are over 12,000,000 illegals. CNN say it is almost twice that. A guy on NPR a few weeks ago said up to 30,000,00.