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Camming + Visa situation in the US
Hi chicas!
So, I've been camming for three months on MFC and only NOW am I thinking "am I even allowed to do this?..." I will need experts who know about visa laws.
Okay, here is my deal. I'm an international student in the US, so I'm under a F-1 visa status. It does state that I'm not allowed to work here in the US (but most students do it for under-the-table cash pay). I only started thinking about it once I realized that MFC was based in this country.
I used my French passport to sign up, so I don't know if that affects it in any way. They didn't require me to show my visa or anything. I'm assuming that it's because I could be camming from anywhere, and it would still be the same. My concern is that my checks are going into my wells fargo account, which is a student account, (maybe an international student account), which allows me to transfer / receive money without people questioning it so far.
My question is, does anyone know if it's actually ok for me to cam under these circumstances? (I'm hoping that yes! Because I'm making awesome money from it).
Help?
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Ok so i am in that exact situation, i am polish and also international student on f1 visa. I work for streamate but it doesnt
Really matter which website u work for. Well yes f1 student cant work technicly in us but you are "independent contaractor" so yea can do this job from any country in the world:) i asked a laywer about this:) so it is legall for u to work as a webcam model on a student visa in us but u have to pay the taxes. I dont know if u have ssn but i do since i came here first on a j1 which is work&study visa and they gave me a ssn !!! I know u used a french passport but it doesnt change a fact that u live here !!! But if u get paid on wells fargo student account
Then immigration can easly look at ur earnings u know specially if u gonna be banking
More and more money they can take a look at it ! I know this from experience
So if i were u to be safe pay the taxes or have mfc pay u on payoneer its will be a greatsolution for u i know it eill take a while till u get it but it better for u and also u can use payoneer in france anytime as well as withdaw money i hope i could help a litlle :) goodluck
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
I would look further into the laws. Here in the US big brother looks and has access to everything, including bank accounts and a lot of accounts send out alerts when it reaches over a certain limit (example $10k) some countries state that students can only work no more than 20 hours a week.
http://www.legalmatch.com/law-librar...f1j1-visa.html
The site above (a legal site) states that you cannot work more than 20 hours on an f1 visa unless the school is on recess. If they are on a recess you may work 40 hours a week. Again, do your research as I'm not sure how outdated that is but I'm pretty sure it hasn't changed as that is usually the rule for every student working anywhere.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
The consequences of doing so without approval would almost certainly result in deportation, a bar on any return to the states, and make any future visa applications incredibly difficult.
I cannot stress enough that you SHOULD NOT attempt to cam on the side as extra income. You would still be working in the US which would be against the terms of your visa.
If you are in the first year of your course, you may only seek on-campus employment.
Quote:
Employment
F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. There are various programs available for F-1 students to seek off-campus employment, after the first academic year. F-1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment, after they have been studying for one academic year. These three types of employment are:
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion)
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT)
M-1 students may engage in practical training only after they have completed their studies.
For both F-1 and M-1 students any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work by the Designated School Official (the person authorized to maintain the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)) and USCIS.
The suggestion by another that you should pay taxes just in case if you do decide to cam could be incredibly dangerous. Unless they mean you report in on French taxes, reporting it in a tax return in the US wouldn't be far off calling USCIS and asking them to remove your visa.
I can only suggest that you inform yourself at uscis.gov and seek legal advice. There won't be many on this forum that will be able to offer advice that fits your specific situation. I can tell you though that to the strictest letter of the terms of your visa, it is improbable that you will be able to work legally as a cam model while you reside in the States.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Find an immigration lawyer and talk to them about the legality of your situation.
There are LOTS of limits on working in the US while on a visa - it is never as simple as "yes this is legal" or "no this is illegal". You may find that it is legal up to a certain number of hours, amount of earnings, depending on your program, etc etc.
And this isn't really something that you want to take a risk on - if you are deported, not only will you probably never be able to return to the states, but you will basically lose all the money that you have paid for your education and have to start all over again. Not worth it.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Hey guys,
Thank you so much for the feedback. It dawned on me a little late for some reason because I never considered camming as "work." I've always been one to stick to the rules, I never even got jobs that paid under the table! I've done everything according to the rules so far and this was a complete accident. I was distracted by my enjoyment and the money I made from it until I realized "Uh... these checks have been coming from IL... wait...."
Again thank you for the help ladies, I will seek out advice from professionals who are well-versed in these types of issues.
When I do find a solid answer, I will post it on this thread so that any people with the same issue may come here as a reference.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
0TaraM
You have French passport so the situation is you are French, no matter where you live (in US, in France or in some other country). It does matter what is the student situation in France. How much you work , how much you can work (for example 20 hours) or how how much you get payed per month. You have to pay taxes to your own country (for example before if you know that sum you will get payed or the next year if you donīt know how much you will get payed in this year). If you get some student aid/loan itīs good to know beforehand how much you can work or how much you can payed before you have to pay loans back.
Not true. You pay taxes where you LIVE not where you are FROM.
When she is in the US on a student visa, if she can work at all, she would be paying tax in the US, not in France. Of course, if she in only in the US during term time, and is back in France on the holidays, and working there, she would be filling in a tax return for BOTH countries, but that is rare (and only counts if she is working in France in the holidays).
Otherwise, I would be paying tax in the UK, despite having lived in Canada for five years! Or, after moving to the US next year, I will be paying tax in Canada...or possibly in the UK, seeing as I have both passports!! Passports do not affect tax - country of residence does.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tlulu
Hey guys,
Thank you so much for the feedback. It dawned on me a little late for some reason because I never considered camming as "work." I've always been one to stick to the rules, I never even got jobs that paid under the table! I've done everything according to the rules so far and this was a complete accident. I was distracted by my enjoyment and the money I made from it until I realized "Uh... these checks have been coming from IL... wait...."
Again thank you for the help ladies, I will seek out advice from professionals who are well-versed in these types of issues.
When I do find a solid answer, I will post it on this thread so that any people with the same issue may come here as a reference.
This line is the solid answer - "For both F-1 and M-1 students any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study"
Even if you were studying modelling, you'd be hard pressed to prove camming is related.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
0TaraM
You have French passport so the situation is you are French, no matter where you live (in US, in France or in some other country). It does matter what is the student situation in France. How much you work , how much you can work (for example 20 hours) or how how much you get payed per month. You have to pay taxes to your own country (for example before if you know that sum you will get payed or the next year if you donīt know how much you will get payed in this year). If you get some student aid/loan itīs good to know beforehand how much you can work or how much you can payed before you have to pay loans back.
And please don't listen to this.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
txstarz
This line is the solid answer - "For both F-1 and M-1 students any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study"
Even if you were studying modelling, you'd be hard pressed to prove camming is related.
That sounds right - when I was looking into studying in the US, I remember being shocked that you could not work AT ALL - this is basically to allow graduate students to work at the university or for practicum placements that are required for their degree.
That said...
1. I wonder if you were studying sex therapy, if camming could be considered related to the area of study?
2. I have always wondered how it would work if you were working online and getting paid to a bank account in another country. I mean, in some cases, it works - if you are a writer or artist, and you happen to be travelling and do some writing while you are there, but publish and get paid in your own country, you haven't broken any visa or tax laws.
I wonder where the line is with that...if I am visiting NYC, and visit a camgirl friend, and we do some shows....then my check is still being sent to Canada, and I am depositing it in a canadian account...but I was working for a us company in the us without a visa.
If I live in the US for 6months on a holiday visa, and cam for a US company...but get my checks sent to Canada and then deposit them to a canadian account and transfer THAT money to the US to use....am I breaking my visa? Or not?
I honestly don't know the answers to those questions, I'm just wondering. It matters to me, because I intend to move to NYC next year - although I plan to hire an immigration lawyer rather than figure it out myself.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
0TaraM
You have French passport so the situation is you are French, no matter where you live (in US, in France or in some other country). It does matter what is the student situation in France. How much you work , how much you can work (for example 20 hours) or how how much you get payed per month. You have to pay taxes to your own country (for example before if you know that sum you will get payed or the next year if you donīt know how much you will get payed in this year). If you get some student aid/loan itīs good to know beforehand how much you can work or how much you can payed before you have to pay loans back.
Had OP not entered her US address and had she not used checks, what 0TaraM says would be *exactly* the case. I mean it's common sense. She's not going for a green card (unlike @ManyRoses having a CA passport) she doesn't have a ssn - for all intents and purposes she's French.
But then again she DID opt for checks so that makes it a little more complicated...
All in all I have no freaking idea what I'm talking about but let's say if I went on a property buying trip for let's say the visa exempt period of 3 months to let's say US (or Thailand? or w/e) and I happened to have a good internet connection where I was staying this is how I would conduct my business. Correct me if I'm wrong but my dealings on that country's soil for that limited amount of time without me wanting a perm. res. status would/should be of absolute no interest to the country's authorities.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
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Originally Posted by
Kayden
Had OP not entered her US address and had she not used checks, what 0TaraM says would be *exactly* the case. I mean it's common sense. She's not going for a green card (unlike @ManyRoses having a CA passport) she doesn't have a ssn - for all intents and purposes she's French.
But then again she DID opt for checks so that makes it a little more complicated...
All in all I have no freaking idea what I'm talking about but let's say if I went on a property buying trip for let's say the visa exempt period of 3 months to let's say US (or Thailand? or w/e) and I happened to have a good internet connection where I was staying this is how I would conduct my business. Correct me if I'm wrong but my dealings on that country's soil for that limited amount of time without me wanting a perm. res. status would/should be of absolute no interest to the country's authorities.
No idea why you think that I would have a green card? My point was that I have both UK AND Canadian citizenship, but I'm hardly going to be paying taxes to both countries simply because I am a citizen. Being French, English, Canadian, whatever doesn't matter. Legal residency is what determines your tax status.
The point is that this is a real grey area - when you are on a temporary visa, including a long-term temporary visa, and have an online business, at what point are you conducting a business in the country where you are living on the visa? Obviously, sending e-mails while you are on vacation is ok...but I feel like camming long-term from the US while being resident is not.
I would guess (although I cannot be sure) that some of the factors affecting it would be:
- did she start the business before she came to the country? If she started camming after entering the states, I will bet you anything that it is considered working in the US
- Is the money being cashed/spent/sent to the US or another country? As in, if you are a writer, and wrote an article while in Texas, but got paid in the UK, lived in the UK and spent the money in the UK, you are alright.
- Where are you legally resident? If she is a student on a student visa, she is resident in the US. If you are on a tourist visa, you are not resident.
- Are you paying taxes elsewhere for the same time period? This is linked to the residency thing.
Also, the address she entered and her method of payment does NOT affect this at all. In fact, trying to avoid paying taxes or get around visa specifications by intentionally choosing a less traceable method of payment, or sending payment elsewhere in the world, is fraud, and MASSIVELY illegal. It is like saying that paypal income "doesn't count" and doesn't need to be taxed, or that "cash income doesn't need to be declared" or that "you can work an under the table job on a visa that doesn't allow you to work'. It's illegal.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
ManyRoses I think she was talking about the OP not going for a green card, not you. I could be wrong though. I thought that if you had dual citizenship that you had to pay both taxes? I know for a fact that if you renounce the US they can still make you pay taxes for up to 10 years. I've heard of people moving to other countries and not realizing that they still were supposed to be paying taxes in the US. I think if you make over $90k that you can get a break but it's a bit tricky.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
If it helps, I studied film production? But again, thank you for the additional feedback girls. Worst case scenario, I'll just get married hahaha
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ManyRoses
No idea why you think that I would have a green card? My point was that I have both UK AND Canadian citizenship, but I'm hardly going to be paying taxes to both countries simply because I am a citizen. Being French, English, Canadian, whatever doesn't matter. Legal residency is what determines your tax status.
The point is that this is a real grey area - when you are on a temporary visa, including a long-term temporary visa, and have an online business, at what point are you conducting a business in the country where you are living on the visa? Obviously, sending e-mails while you are on vacation is ok...but I feel like camming long-term from the US while being resident is not.
I would guess (although I cannot be sure) that some of the factors affecting it would be:
- did she start the business before she came to the country? If she started camming after entering the states, I will bet you anything that it is considered working in the US
- Is the money being cashed/spent/sent to the US or another country? As in, if you are a writer, and wrote an article while in Texas, but got paid in the UK, lived in the UK and spent the money in the UK, you are alright.
- Where are you legally resident? If she is a student on a student visa, she is resident in the US. If you are on a tourist visa, you are not resident.
- Are you paying taxes elsewhere for the same time period? This is linked to the residency thing.
Also, the address she entered and her method of payment does NOT affect this at all. In fact, trying to avoid paying taxes or get around visa specifications by intentionally choosing a less traceable method of payment, or sending payment elsewhere in the world, is fraud, and MASSIVELY illegal. It is like saying that paypal income "doesn't count" and doesn't need to be taxed, or that "cash income doesn't need to be declared" or that "you can work an under the table job on a visa that doesn't allow you to work'. It's illegal.
You're right in that case. I was kinda assuming that a student visa is just like a really long tourist visa (since apparently I like to talk about stuff I know nothing about ::))
Hopefully a long-ish tourist visa (as in my example) wouldn't imply residency (well it probably wouldn't after all why would they call it a "tourist visa" otherwise) well now I know what to look out for :)
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kortneykay
ManyRoses I think she was talking about the OP not going for a green card, not you. I could be wrong though. I thought that if you had dual citizenship that you had to pay both taxes? I know for a fact that if you renounce the US they can still make you pay taxes for up to 10 years. I've heard of people moving to other countries and not realizing that they still were supposed to be paying taxes in the US. I think if you make over $90k that you can get a break but it's a bit tricky.
It depends on what you are paying taxes ON.
It all boils down to the fact that you pay taxes on your income, and you pay taxes to the country where you are claiming/spending that income and where you are resident. It also depends on how long you are resident/your visa situation. If you are a citizen of a country, but have no income in that country, you do not pay taxes there!! End of story. Of course, some people can be confused as to what constitutes "income" - because it is not simply "earnings" but includes things like investments, property, rental income, alimony etc. So you can move out of the US, but if you retain bank accounts, savings, investments, property, or any other asset in the US, you should probably be paying taxes on those assets.
The "10 year" thing (usually 6years in the EU) is actually NOT a tax thing. What I think you are referring to is simply the fact that every country has what amounts to a "statute of limitations" on debt - a time period after which the state is not able to chase you for unpaid debts. So if you owe taxes in the US, and leave, and stay out for 10years, you can return and they can no longer chase you to pay. Random side note - although this is HUGELY illegal, I have known several people to take advantage of it....of course, depending on the amount owed, etc etc, you can be charged and if found, extradited (depending on where you go TO), but that is incredibly rare. Anyway, that is not the point...just interesting side note!
Another interesting side note - this time about AUS. If you are on a working holiday visa, you have to pay taxes on your work. However, you can claim some/most of it BACK after you leave. Same with simply being on a holiday visa - you can save your receipts, and actually claim back sales taxes on stuff that you buy, once you get home. Very few people do, because it is a giant hassle, but it is a useful little loophole.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
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Originally Posted by
0TaraM
Anyway this is a real job, have to pay taxes anyway. If she search some kind of job, she havenīt pay taxes like independent prostitute, this is not same kind of job. Webcam model job is a real and have to pay taxes. The good thing is you can pay taxes later than normal.
DUDE.
You legally have to pay taxes on all your income. The only exceptions are usually items that "cannot be reasonably tracked" i.e. gifts, but even then, large $ gifts have to be declared and taxes paid.
Obviously, if you are a prostitute in a country where it is not legal, you are kind of between a rock and a hard place, because your work is illegal in the first place, but just because you get money in cash, or aren't working for an employer, or your income can't be tracked - THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT LEGAL TO AVOID TAXES.
I cannot believe how many women in the sex industry do not understand this.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kayden
You're right in that case. I was kinda assuming that a student visa is just like a really long tourist visa (since apparently I like to talk about stuff I know nothing about ::))
Hopefully a long-ish tourist visa (as in my example) wouldn't imply residency (well it probably wouldn't after all why would they call it a "tourist visa" otherwise) well now I know what to look out for :)
I had another thought - I know I'm just all over this thread...lol. But I do travel a LOT, move around a LOT, live in different countries for shorter periods of time, and I am planning on moving to the US, so it is actually really relevant..and I think important!
The main reason that student visas in the US limit your ability to work is so that you are not "taking jobs away" from US workers. Because of the nature of our work, I honestly don't know how this affects that proviso. Being self-employed, especially in THIS industry, could be considered to be obeying the spirit of the law - which is why I would definitely talk to an immigration lawyer, and this is a visa issue.
I think you are right about a student visa being comparable to a long-ass tourist visa. The issue with that is the same one we have been talking about - a tourist visa doesn't give you the right to work in that country!
Although we've been posting about taxes a lot, that part is actually fairly simple, once you have figured out if you can do this job....either you CAN, and can be paid in the US, because of the nature of the work...in which case, you are probably going to be paying taxes in the US. Or you can, but have to be paid in France, and then you would have to pay taxes there. Or you can't. In which case, you are shit out of luck! LOL
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tlulu
If it helps, I studied film production? But again, thank you for the additional feedback girls. Worst case scenario, I'll just get married hahaha
You should also know that getting married for the purpose of being able to stay in the US is ALSO HIGHLY ILLEGAL. I have a friend who did this very thing, and he paid a girl to spend months and months and months with him so they could pass the battery of test that they make you go through to PROVE you actually are marrying for the right reasons, not just so you can stay in this country. They passed, and I was pissed at him for doing that. But, to each their own.
Just make sure you know that it IS illegal to marry for the purpose of staying in the US and they WILL question every tiny detail about your personal life to make absolute sure you are a REAL couple. I mean, they even asked them each separately what side of the bed they sleep on! And they question you in separate rooms to see that the answers add up.
Seen the movie The Proposal? That's actually pretty close to how it works.
Interestingly, now the friend who owns 3 7-11 stores is trying to divorce the girl, who is now threatening to turn him in for the whole ordeal because she doesn't want to be cut off from his money!!! Bad, bad situation to get yourself into.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kayden
All in all I have no freaking idea what I'm talking about
This is the problem! Please refrain from clouding what is a very cut and dry situation, people! The fact of the matter is that the rules regarding student visas very clearly state what work you can do and when you can do it. While she is living in the US on a student visa, she is for all intents and purposes residing in the US temporarily and as such is bound by US tax laws.
There is no "Well surely common sense dictates...", there is only clear, non-disputable US law. You cannot earn money while living in the US and have it paid to an account in another country to evade US tax. The US tax return requires WORLDWIDE income to be declared.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
I also think this seems kind of simple.... MFC is based in the US. You are physically in the US. You are working in the US. You are not allowed to work in the US. Stop working in the US.
LOL I mean? I think this has been overcomplicated?
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
txstarz
This is the problem! Please refrain from clouding what is a very cut and dry situation, people! The fact of the matter is that the rules regarding student visas very clearly state what work you can do and when you can do it. While she is living in the US on a student visa, she is for all intents and purposes residing in the US temporarily and as such is bound by US tax laws.
There is no "Well surely common sense dictates...", there is only clear, non-disputable US law. You cannot earn money while living in the US and have it paid to an account in another country to evade US tax. The US tax return requires WORLDWIDE income to be declared.
I like this guy. Or girl. Just saying. :)
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Just out of interest, tlulu, what information did you use to sign up as an MFC model? Did you need to fill in tax information for filing in France or did you use a US SSN or anything? I'd be wary of the situation given that MFC does send out 1099s.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Good lord, where's Melonie? Lol
I think she stated that she used her French passport and does not have an SSN.
I just wanted to add that Americans who leave the states do actually have to keep paying taxes. I ha ve a vanilla client in that situation - she kept her US citizenship in order to easily visit family, and has payed taxes in both Canada (where she lived, worked, and has now retired) and the US for decades, although not at the same rate she would if she were living there. She's now considering ditching the US citizenship since she only has one sister left there and doesn't travel much, and said that she would have to continue with the same dual-tax setup for another 10 years. This doesn't affect the OP, but it came up earlier so I just wanted to put that out there.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Quote:
Originally Posted by
txstarz
This is the problem! Please refrain from clouding what is a very cut and dry situation, people! The fact of the matter is that the rules regarding student visas very clearly state what work you can do and when you can do it. While she is living in the US on a student visa, she is for all intents and purposes residing in the US temporarily and as such is bound by US tax laws.
There is no "Well surely common sense dictates...", there is only clear, non-disputable US law. You cannot earn money while living in the US and have it paid to an account in another country to evade US tax. The US tax return requires WORLDWIDE income to be declared.
The thing is, that in this case, the law ISN'T that clear, because of the whole "temporary stay" combined with "self-employed". I think that is where the confusion is coming in (at least, I hope so! It should be pretty obvious that "you cannot work in the US' means "you can't work in the US").
Because if you have a business, and are traveling, and do some work or work-related activities while traveling, often, you are not considered to be working in the country where you are travelling.
Examples:
1. Writers. Especially - TRAVEL WRITERS. You do not need a working visa for the US to go on a 3month road trip across the US and write about it for publication for money. If you are a writer for Lonely Planet, and spend a month living in Indonesia to be able to write about living in Indonesia, you don't need a working visa for Indonesia, and you don't need to pay taxes to the Indonesian government. Essentially, your writing business is based out of whichever country you are resident in, and you publish from that country and pay taxes in that country, no matter where you write the words themselves. Otherwise you could just do all your writing on a plane or a boat in international waters and not pay any tax or require any working visa.
2. Business owners on a business trip. If you own a small business making clothing in Canada, and you go to China to source fabric, you do not need a working visa for China, even though the purpose of your travel to China is actually business. If you go to New York on vacation, and go to fashion week, and take lots of notes, have meetings, make industry contacts, etc - you don't need a working visa for the US, even though you have gone to the US and worked. Again, your business is based out of Canada, and that is where you need the legal right to work and where you pay taxes.
3. You work in summer camps in Germany, every year as an ongoing contract. You study in the USA for the rest of the year under a student visa. While in the USA, you are creating programs for the next summer camp, doing admin for the summer camp, and generally doing work online for the camp, and being paid for it. But you are not "working in the US" despite physically being in the US and doing something that is earning you money....because the money being earned is being paid to an account in Germany and that is where the primary business is.
See how it starts to get really complicated?
SO for Sarah's example of MFC - lets say that come the summer, I go to NYC (which I intend to) and have started working with MFC as well as SM (again, I intend to do this). Now, I am resident in Canada, and in NYC for 3 weeks on a holiday visa. Am I breaking the terms of the visa if I log on and do some shows for MFC? On the face of it, I am working in the USA for a US company, so yes. BUT....I am running a business that is based out of Canada, where I legally work for this US company, and could be considered to simply be conducting normal business for my CANADIAN company while travelling.....
So if I CAN legally do shows while on vacation for a couple of weeks, where is the tipping point? (And if I cannot - well, then what else can I not do? Am I legally limited from logging on to answer e-mails or change my profile, as those can be considered work in the name of the US company while on US soil? Where is THAT tipping point between work and not-work?) At what point am I considered to be living and working in the US? Well - the answer to that one would seem to be "when I am a legal resident of the USA".
But then we have the issue with the OP - does a student visa make her a legal resident of the US? Is she able to also be a legal resident of France? As a student, can you be a legal resident of two countries? What about when you are not a student? What if you are a "snow bunny" and spend 6months of the year in Canada skiing, and the other 6 months in Florida, sunbathing? Are you a legal resident of both? Does your legal residency change when you travel? If it does, does your residency change when you travel for a week? A month? A day?
If you CAN be legally resident of two countries, and you are legally allowed to do work-related activities for a business that you own in one country while you are in the other, then at what point are you working in the other country? Is it to do with the sheer amount of time you spend working? The type of work? Where payment is sent? Where the business is registered?
The only really simple, straightforward situation with this would be if the OP signed up for MFC while in the US, and has never cammed while NOT in the US, and has only ever been paid in the US, to a US bank account. In that scenario, there is no way to argue that she is doing work related to her own France-based business while she is in the US - she is simply working in the USA. But if she started camming long before she came over.....well, it gets all kinds of messy.
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Re: Camming + Visa situation in the US
Given that she has been on MFC for 3 months, it's most likely that she signed up whilst in the US, although I admit that is an assumption. The only real advice anyone can give would be to talk to immigration or a tax expert. I know that given the nature of the job, it may be slightly embarrassing to do so, but it's your future that can be affected in quite a big way.
That one line on USCIS.gov though referring to any off-campus work being related to your field of study should not be ignored, however.