Planning US Tourist Visa overstay; is this a bad idea?

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Answers first, but please read the whole post:

  1. This will be one of a factors considered by the Consulate, but they will not be automatically denied visas simply because you overstayed. The consul might find out depending on what kind of "family members" you are talking about (parent? son? in-laws?), since you would be listed on some of their applications.

  2. Since you're getting a tourist visa, any kind of paid work you'd be performing for an American employer would be illegal. To stay legally and work in US you need a different (non-tourist) visa, which is usually organized by employer. Unless you're a Canadian, there is no visa which allows you to come to US and find a random job.

Now, what you are planning to do sounds like a risky gamble. While the job market in US is now good, it can only benefit people with work authorization which you don't have. If you plan to work illegally, the competition is tough, and you'd be basically limited to very few jobs with low pay and a much higher chance to be ripped off (after all, you can't really complain to police about being not paid for the work done). There's also a chance to get caught and deported, which is not fun at all. Please reconsider this plan.

Upvote:3

Planning US Tourist Visa overstay; is this a bad idea?

I am not a Lawyer but a pre-planned overstay without any emergency is actually an illegal idea, not just bad.

Is there a way I can legally stay in america for a job for more than 6 mos since i only have a tourist visa?

Yes! there is; apply for the proper visa that fits your purpose of travel. Your purpose of travel is

I'm planning to overstay in America to look for a better Job

You've already tricked the system into believing you are a genuine tourist when your intentions are different. Might as well start worrying about getting accepted for entry at the port when you're interviewed and can't satisfy the Officer.

And nope, no points for being honest on SE when the visa application is not factual.

Upvote:4

To add to what others are saying: getting health insurance will be enormously difficult since your employer is extremely unlikely to give you one (I am not even sure there's a legal way even if they wanted to!) and then you are in serious trouble. Health care is known to be ridiculously expensive and your options will be very limited at using it.

Upvote:6

Future consequences: if they try to renew their visas, will they be denied because I didn't go back? Will the Consul find out what I did?

Depends on your country of residence but that is entirely possible. Visa applications often require the demonstration of "family ties" that would compel visitors to go back home. Having a close relative who stays illegally in the US will certainly not help.

Will the Consul find out what I did?

Probably. You will get flagged as an illegal immigrant as soon as your tourist Visa expires. US immigration may discuss this with your embassy, but that depends on the country and the relationship.

  1. Is there a way I can legally stay in the US for a job for more than the 6 months I'm allowed on my tourist visa?

No. In order to find a job you need a legal authorization to work in the US. See https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/employment.html. There are various types of visa but they are all hard to get.

Final thought: DON'T DO THIS. It is illegal, you will be deported if you get caught and you will not be able to enter the US again for a long long time, or never.

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