Can a B2 Visitor in the USA work for a UK company as a consultant, performing work for a US company

Can a B2 Visitor in the USA work for a UK company as a consultant, performing work for a US company - Free stock photo of america, announcement, banner

Jane and Alan live in the UK, they are engaged to be married, they are NOT married.

Alan receives a job offer in the US and is granted an o1 Visa.

Because they are not married, Jane is given a B2 visa so she may go with Alan.

Jane is employed by a UK company as a consultant. That UK company are hired by a US company and Jane is given that workload.

Jane is now living in the USA, consulting for a UK company, doing work for a US company.

Is this legal?



Best Answer

Short Answer:

Jane cannot work in the US while she is in B-2 status.

Long Answer

US Visa B-2 is for tourism. This travel.state.gov page says permitted activities on a B-2 visa include:

  • Tourism
  • Vacation (holiday)
  • Visit with friends or relatives
  • Medical treatment
  • Participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
  • Participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
  • Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)

Just below on the same State Department page this appears:

Travel Purposes Not Permitted on Visitor Visas

  • Study
  • Employment
  • Paid performances, or any professional performance before a paying audience
  • Arrival as a crewmember on a ship or aircraft Work as foreign press, in radio, film, print journalism, or other information media
  • Permanent residence in the United States

Thus, Jane is not permitted to work while in the US in B-2 status.




Pictures about "Can a B2 Visitor in the USA work for a UK company as a consultant, performing work for a US company"

Can a B2 Visitor in the USA work for a UK company as a consultant, performing work for a US company - Ethnic businessman shaking hand of applicant in office
Can a B2 Visitor in the USA work for a UK company as a consultant, performing work for a US company - Formal man with tablet giving presentation in office
Can a B2 Visitor in the USA work for a UK company as a consultant, performing work for a US company - Crop unrecognizable office worker standing with papers in hand



Can you work for a UK company in the US?

Answer. Dan: It's certainly possible for a UK company to hire US employees. There are several US payroll companies that handle this type of thing but it raises legal and tax issues, the most important of which is that you probably will be subject to US tax and business registration by doing so.

Can I work remotely with a B1 B2 visa in the US?

Tourist visas do not allow you to work as employed in the issuing country. But, they do not prohibit you from doing your 'home' work while on vacation. So anyone from anywhere who is working on their laptop or smartphone while on short or long vacation is not under any penalty.

Can I open a business with a tourist visa in USA?

Nonimmigrant Business Visa Options Individuals usually think the B-1 Business Visitor Visa, is the most suitable option for a person wishing to start a business in the U.S. simply because of the name.

Can you work remotely in the United States?

Global Workplace Analytics believes that 25-30% of the workforce will remotely by 2021. Upwork estimates that 1 in 4 Americans over 26% of the American workforce will be working remotely through 2021. They also estimate that 22% of the workforce (36.2 Million Americans) will work remotely by 2025.



B1 / B2 is Tourist / Visitor Visa NOT Good for Working or Doing Business in USA | Don't Abuse Visa




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Andrew Neel, Sora Shimazaki, Andrea Piacquadio, Sora Shimazaki