Can I get paid for hours worked while under and F1 student visa after my H1B gets approved?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Can I get paid for hours worked while under and F1 student visa after my H1B gets approved?

I worked for a company without getting paid for 4 months. During this time I held an F1 student visa and the company did not issue any payments to myself. When my H1B visa got approved, the company issued payments for the hours I put in during the past 4 months. I am wondering if this is illegal and if I will end up having trouble when I apply for my green card?

Asked on September 27, 2011 under Immigration Law, Florida

Answers:

SB, Member, California / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

Typically, you are not supposed to be doing any type of work that results in payment or promise of payment at a time when you are not authorized for employment in the US.  However, in some circumstances, it is possible to get paid once one is authorized for employment when it is considered a type of sign-on bonus.  That could be your situation, I suppose.  As far as the green card process in the future, there should be no negative impact on that from the unauthorized employment as long as there is no evidence of income to your social security number posting at a time when you were not authorized for employment.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption