Will I get deported if I work for a different company than the one that my visa states?

Question

I have a US work visa, which allows me to work for one company. Other companies want to employ me. If I work and get pay checks from these other companies, without the visa allowing me to, will it be discovered by the authorities?

Answer 1

Yes you will.

Answer 2

it's illegal, since your visa obligates you to work for only one employer (the sponsor of H1B). You should petition for the new H1B if you want to work for someone else.  

Answer 3

If your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) specifies an employer, that is a condition of your non-resident status.  If you quit or are fired from that company you you would be out of status.  It is illegal for you to work for any other company without premission from the Immigration Service and it is illegal for the company to hire you if you have a restricted visa or EAD.

If you are caught to be out of status, you are deportable.

In reality, the Imigration Service focuses on undocumented aliens at the border areas and anyone caught in jail checks.  Occassionally there are Employeer Sanctions investigations, but they are rare (and legally require 48 hour notice to the employeer or a warrant).

So, will you be caught:  It is a chance you would be taking.  The highest risk would be if you are caught in a jail check, and even then you would have legal papers - so would only be found out if there is reason to investigate further and verify your employment.  It is very unlikely.

There is a process that a potential employeer can sponsor the change, you should use that.  Remember, it is not just you who would be in violation of the law, the employeer would also be in violation of the law.

So, if you rob a bank because someone told you you "could," and it would very unlikely you would ever get caught, you would still be a criminal!  

Answer 4

Yes, it's against the law.  It's a violation of your visa.  You will be deported AND banned from returning.

Answer 5

yes!

Answer 6

As you note, your work visa allows you to work for one company, so why are you even asking? could you be deported? certainly. will you be deported? maybe,maybe not, but since you're out of status and working here illegally, it's certainly possible. Will you be discovered? who knows, but the longer you're here the more possible that is.