Working "Under the Table" in US

[theresia22]

Hi Everybody,

I have a situation and need your input.
When I sent my full application to Buffalo, I am still a F1 student, it was in May 2009.
Since June 2009 I was no longer going to school because of financial hardship, and been working "under the table" ever since.

Recently, I received a letter from Buffalo saying that my application is now in Process, so they want additional documents like Updated FBI check, and Work and Residence history from january 2009 to Present.

Do you think I should put my "under the table" working experience to them, for my work history?
I was thinking on Put UNEMPLOYED since May 2009 to Present, but do you think It'll make sense that staying in here for 1 year with being unemployed and no school, will the IO believe it?

I appreciate for you time giving me some advice,
theresia22

 

[roopa82]

acc to me...its illegal to work without work permit...or either u should be using OPT..which i Think you didnt....what is ur current status going on in ur university????As a international student ,you can take leave for a term...give some more details....about your status in university....but in case of work...if u r not using OPT...it means u are illegally working....will effect your application

 

[roopa82]

Also can u please tell me ...when u sent application and got aor from buffalo....just want to know month....im waiting for in process status.

 

[Kumar0919]

I don't think working "Under the Table" would qualify as valid work experience. Moreover, how are you going to provide reference letters, proof of payment, taxes paid etc. if your employer has no record of you working for them. I doubt that visa officer is just going to take your word for it.

 

[canadacanada]

guys,
theresia22 is not looking for us to say whether he should work illegally or not. He knows that, the question is he needs some input so that he can sort his issues with collecting whatever documents are needed. So please put yourself in his feet before you lecture about whether he should work in US with or witout papers...I am tired of these whims of ppl..we all are outsider in US (aliens lol-- at least in terms of status).
Now, if you have a valid ID then go to any local police station where you got finger printed last time when you sent your full docs , i think you can get that done just showing your pasport. thats for finger print.
About work history and all that, I dont think it will hurt to tell them that you are unemployed ( at least better then telling them you are working illegially)

But i have a suggestion:
See they might call you for interview and then they will ask you questions---if they called you for interview.


But since you applied under the new laws ( I am assuming) I believe you have enough qualifications and experience so I suggest if you like move your application to you home country , there are lot of countries like India/Philippines where the whole process is way too faster.

Just a suggestion if you think you application has 100% changes if you were to apply from your home country.

Hope this helps..

 

[jes_ON]

Hey, we are NOT all outsiders in the US! But that's not the point - so many of us struggle to follow the rules and still have immigration problems, so understandably people get annoyed with those who break the rules/laws. I have my good days and bad days on this -

Theresia, you are out of status, so I don't think working under the table is going to make it any worse . Some say that CIC cares about that, some say that CIC does not. The application is in process, so you might as well go through with it.

The main issue is - if it is "under the table," that expression usually means you're being paid in cash and not paying taxes. Believe me, that's one thing that the Gov of Canada does care about. Will your employer provide the necessary documentation? If you have been paying taxes, do you have tax records? I think if you can provide documentation, you should, that would look better than "nothing." If the job really is "under the table", your employer probably will not provide documentation, and you'd have to find an explanation for that...

 

[theresia22]

thank you everybody for the input.
I think I have pretty good idea on how should I move forward.