work permit for emigration? (lawyer, employment, law)

[aston89]

hi im 18 ill be emigrating to marietta in a month or so on my parents business visa. would it be possible to get a work permit and does anyone know how i'd go about it (not h1 by sponsor).

also would it be easy to set up a bank account?

[CityFan]

What is your visa type? L2? Work permit has to get through immigration service, but if you run your own business and want to get permenent status, you need to apply for investment immigration visa.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by aston89

hi im 18 ill be emigrating to marietta in a month or so on my parents business visa. would it be possible to get a work permit and does anyone know how i'd go about it (not h1 by sponsor).

also would it be easy to set up a bank account?

Work permit - do you fit any of these categories? http://dis.ors.od.nih.gov/visa/visaclasschart.pdf

Bank account - I think this is possible, but will require a bit of extra paperwork at the bank, since you won't have an SSN unless you have employment authorization.

[RainyRainyDay]

Aston,

Stepping back a bit, here is some overall advice. US immigration is very complex and the rules regarding work authorization are very restrictive - much more so than in most European or Commonwealth countries. Native-born American citizens simply have no knowledge of this area of their country's laws - and of course this is perfectly natural, they have no reason to know - and tend to be influenced by the presence of many illegal immigrants in their country, to assume it's very easy for foreigners to come here and work. This is false. Unless you are a Nobel prize winner, top business executive, world-class entertainer or athlete, it is very difficult to come to the US and legally work.

If your parents have recently come to the US, then probably they have used an immigration lawyer, and their lawyer would be your best source of up-to-the-minute information specific to your situation.

Your second-best option would be to search out some of the numerous online forums focused on US immigration. I think there are probably even UK-specific forums of this type. People on those forums will be very knowledgeable about US immigration for UK citizens. This forum right here is not a good place to ask questions about US immigration, work authorization, etc. There is too much risk of getting well-intended but inaccurate advice.

[aston89]

yeah i totally understand Rainy Day. it might be better to post in a business or us law forum. i guess i wouldn't know about immigration laws for my country either...

[irvm]

Originally Posted by aston89

yeah i totally understand Rainy Day. it might be better to post in a business or us law forum. i guess i wouldn't know about immigration laws for my country either...

Don't bother to post.
You must make these arrangements at the US consulate IN YOUR COUNTRY before
you come here. Otherwise, you risk being sent back home, and invited not to come back until you have gone through the proper channels.

AFAIK, work permits are NOT issued once you're here on a visit.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by irvm

Don't bother to post.
You must make these arrangements at the US consulate IN YOUR COUNTRY before
you come here. Otherwise, you risk being sent back home, and invited not to come back until you have gone through the proper channels.

AFAIK, work permits are NOT issued once you're here on a visit.

The OP wouldn't be here as a tourist but as a dependent of somebody on a working status. So he could likely file an I-539 to change to a working status, assuming he was eligible for one. See USCIS instructions here: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-539instr.pdf

This stuff is why people just really, really need to consult a lawyer. It's byzantine, and the general public is not well enough informed to advise people. (And yes, that goes for me too, but as a survivor of the green process, I think I'm at least well enough informed to say "ask a lawyer").