People often come to the United States with the hope of building a better life than they had before. They come seeking opportunities, including the ability to earn a living, but this must be done the right way so that they can lawfully work.
For immigrants, having proper documentation is the first step in this. In the U.S., only individuals with legal permission to work, including citizens, green card holders or visa holders with employment authorization, are allowed to take jobs. This means that undocumented immigrants and those waiting for employment authorization approval may not legally work until their status allows it.
How is proper documentation verified?
Employers are required to verify every worker’s eligibility using Form I-9. If someone uses false documents or works without proper permission, it could lead to immigration consequences and legal issues.
Working without documentation may:
- Jeopardize your current or future immigration applications
- Lead to disqualification from certain forms of relief, including adjustment of status
- Trigger deportation proceedings if discovered
- Result in bars to re-entry if you leave the U.S.
In some cases, people may become eligible for legal status, but may face challenges because of a record of unauthorized employment. There are only limited situations in which someone’s unauthorized work in the past may be forgiven.
Some examples of situations that might lead to forgiveness include things like filing a family-based petition prior to a specific deadline or under certain humanitarian programs. Those are only exceptions and shouldn’t ever be counted on for handling unauthorized work unless the individual has verified that one of those situations applies to their case.
If you’re in the U.S. and unsure of your employment rights, it’s important to understand the risks involved, which may be easier if you have someone on your side who’s familiar with these matters. Knowing your options now can help protect your future, especially as immigration policies continue to evolve.