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H1B/H2B Visa - can you work for 2 companies on one visa?

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ponyuk

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Feb 8, 2005, 12:27:33 PM2/8/05
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If you enter legally on a H1B or H2B visa working full-time for one
company and wanted to work for another company part-time would you need
to apply for another H1b or H2B visa for the other company? I mean
retain the full-time job and do additional work to suppliment salary
and gain experience in a different field, not change jobs.
I've googled around and been unable to find a definative answer, is
this uncommon?

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Joe Feise

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Feb 8, 2005, 5:41:15 PM2/8/05
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Yes, you would need an additional H1 from the other company.
This is very well known. I guess you didn't google around enough ;-)

-Joe

crg14624

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Feb 8, 2005, 5:13:03 PM2/8/05
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You can work for more than one company, but you need an approved, valid
petition for each employer. You also can't mix classifications. Both
jobs would have to be H1B. You can't work as an H1B and an H2B at the
same time.

You can't "do additional work to suppliment salary and gain experience
in a different field" without work authorization for the specific
employer, even if you do it for free.

franc111s

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Feb 8, 2005, 5:41:26 PM2/8/05
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> You can work for more than one company, but you need an approved,
> valid petition for each employer. You also can't mix classifications.
> Both jobs would have to be H1B. You can't work as an H1B and an H2B
> at the same time.
>
> You can't "do additional work to suppliment salary and gain experience
> in a different field" without work authorization for the specific
> employer, even if you do it for free.

I fully concur, you can't even work for free. THe whole concept is -
YOU CANNOT TAKE SOMEONE ELSE's JOB. That what Labor Certification is
for - now PERM.

What you do with this information of course, is upto you. There's
a black economy out there somewhere. just don't risk your
immigration status.

ponyuk

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Feb 8, 2005, 5:50:08 PM2/8/05
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> I fully concur, you can't even work for free. THe whole concept is -
> YOU CANNOT TAKE SOMEONE ELSE's JOB. That what Labor Certification is
> for - now PERM.
>
> What you do with this information of course, is upto you. There's
> a black economy out there somewhere. just don't risk your
> immigration status.

thanks for the info. The reason i asked is i have a sort of job offer,
its actually a training course but will prove hard to get a visa as its
unusual.
I'm a horseman in the UK and wish to study under a brilliant blacksmith
in Texas. I have to pay him $6000 for 12 months training, but after
about 6 months (once I have enough experience to help rather than
hinder) I will be paid 10% of daily taking (around $100 a day). Doesnt
fit any catergory for a visa. looking for a good lawyer to see if they
can arrange i study under him for the 12 months and just don't get paid.
Rules say I musn't be able to get training anwhere else other than the
US in order to get a visa, well I can get the training here but just not
by this guy - he is like a god.

Joe Feise

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Feb 8, 2005, 7:35:19 PM2/8/05
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franc111s wrote on 2/8/2005 14:41:
>>You can work for more than one company, but you need an approved,
>>valid petition for each employer. You also can't mix classifications.
>>Both jobs would have to be H1B. You can't work as an H1B and an H2B
>>at the same time.
>>
>>You can't "do additional work to suppliment salary and gain experience
>>in a different field" without work authorization for the specific
>>employer, even if you do it for free.
>
>
> I fully concur, you can't even work for free. THe whole concept is -
> YOU CANNOT TAKE SOMEONE ELSE's JOB. That what Labor Certification is
> for - now PERM.

LC and PERM are for Greencards, not for an H1. For H1, there is the LCA, the
Labor Condition Application.

-Joe

Hnchoksi

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Feb 8, 2005, 10:20:58 PM2/8/05
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>Subject: H1B/H2B Visa - can you work for 2 companies on one visa?
>From: ponyuk member27256@british_expats.com
>Date: 2/8/2005 12:27 PM Eastern Standard Time
>Message-id: <34$282646$2043313$11078...@britishexpats.com>

You would have to get a separate H-1 from the second company.

Sylvia Ottemoeller

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Feb 10, 2005, 4:21:09 PM2/10/05
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"ponyuk" <member27256@british_expats.com> wrote in message
news:34$282646$2044171$11079...@britishexpats.com...

I suggest you look into J-1 trainee -- there are several independent
agencies that are J-1 trainee sponsors, and you might be able to find one
that can accommodate this training situation.

Another option may be H-3 trainee. Check with a really good immigration
attorney for that.


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