Question:
I'm staying in Atlanta with my American
girlfriend, and I came over on the
WVP. I'm going back to London at
the end of December. I hopefully
plan to come back sometime next
year, and stay permantly on a K-1
fiance visa. I know you're not allowed
to work on the WVP, but I was wondering
about unpaid work experience? Has
anyone ever done this? I graduated
in broadcasting studies a couple
of years back, and this is the field
I would like to work in when I am
legible to work.
Answer:
I'm staying in Atlanta with
my American girlfriend, and I came
over on the WVP. I'm going back
to London at the end of December.
I hopefully plan to come back sometime
next year, and stay permantly on
a K-1 fiance visa. You mean,
with a spousal Green Card. A K-1
is only good for 90 days; you need
to get married and apply for the
spousal GC during that time.
I know
you're not allowed to work on the
WVP, but I was wondering about >
unpaid work experience? Has anyone
ever done this? You generally
can't do that, either. Work is work,
whether it's paid or not. If it
is strictly a training program where
you wouldn't perform any actual
productive work, then you might
be able to do it with an M-1 visa
(schooling still isn't permitted
as a tourist). I was in the same
situation as you mate. I ended up
getting a B1/B2 tourist visa which
allows you to stay in the country
for 6 months with a possible extension
to 1 year.
However you
arent allowed to work on this visa
speaking. I ended up doing odd jobs
around the town i was in for cash
and did some labouring. So that
is an option for you if you are
willing to work for cash and take
a little risk. I would only use
the K visa if you were fully intent
in getting married. If not it may
cause more issues down the line
when you apply for other visas.
Another plus with the B visa is
that you can change from this status
to the H1-b sponsorship visa easily.
That is if you manage to find a
company willing to sponsor you.
