Is it illegal to look for work on a tourist visa?

[tourist222]

Then why are so many tourists on tourist visas looking for work? Im confused

[Edvance]

Its is illegal. Unless you want to risk being deport

[confused?]

Then why are so many tourists on tourist visas looking for work? Im confused

Yes, you are.  There's a difference between "looking for work" and "working".

If you find work, then you'll need to look at leaving the country, changing the status of your visa etc etc

[jalanperak]

Then why are so many tourists on tourist visas looking for work? Im confused

Yes, you are.  There's a difference between "looking for work" and "working".

If you find work, then you'll need to look at leaving the country, changing the status of your visa etc etc

Not exactly.

As the PP points out, there is nothing that prevents anyone from looking for work, regardless of the type of visa used to enter the country.

If you find a job, your new employer will have to apply for a Work Permit, an S-Pass, or an Employment Pass, depending on the type of job and your qualifications. You don't have to leave the country to get these passes/permits, but you cannot legally work until you have one.

[Prev Poster]

Then why are so many tourists on tourist visas looking for work? Im confused

Yes, you are.  There's a difference between "looking for work" and "working".

If you find work, then you'll need to look at leaving the country, changing the status of your visa etc etc

Not exactly.

As the PP points out, there is nothing that prevents anyone from looking for work, regardless of the type of visa used to enter the country.

If you find a job, your new employer will have to apply for a Work Permit, an S-Pass, or an Employment Pass, depending on the type of job and your qualifications. You don't have to leave the country to get these passes/permits, but you cannot legally work until you have one.

Apologies and thanks for clarifying

"If you find work, then you'll need to look at leaving the country, changing the status of your visa etc etc"

Would have been better written as "If you find work, then you'll need to look at leaving the country <b>OR</b> changing the status of your visa etc etc"

I got lazy in my response  :-)

[expat35]

Another potential source of confusion: In some countries it *is* illegal, notably the USA. On the wisa waiver form you have to declare you are not coming to look for work. The Singapore tourist visa form has no such clause.

[name]

Another potential source of confusion: In some countries it *is* illegal, notably the USA. On the wisa waiver form you have to declare you are not coming to look for work. The Singapore tourist visa form has no such clause.

What if you enter the USA on a tourist visa but then change your mind and decide that you want to look for work?

[Then good luck...]

Another potential source of confusion: In some countries it *is* illegal, notably the USA. On the wisa waiver form you have to declare you are not coming to look for work. The Singapore tourist visa form has no such clause.

What if you enter the USA on a tourist visa but then change your mind and decide that you want to look for work?

...there isn't any.  Well, maybe in debt collection.

[jalanperak]

Another potential source of confusion: In some countries it *is* illegal, notably the USA. On the wisa waiver form you have to declare you are not coming to look for work. The Singapore tourist visa form has no such clause.

What if you enter the USA on a tourist visa but then change your mind and decide that you want to look for work?

Then you apply for an immigration visa or an H1-B visa (assuming you meet the qualifications). Waiting time varies considerably, but is usually pretty long (months to years).

[goldfinger]

Another potential source of confusion: In some countries it *is* illegal, notably the USA. On the wisa waiver form you have to declare you are not coming to look for work. The Singapore tourist visa form has no such clause.

What if you enter the USA on a tourist visa but then change your mind and decide that you want to look for work?

Then you apply for an immigration visa or an H1-B visa (assuming you meet the qualifications). Waiting time varies considerably, but is usually pretty long (months to years).

Who wants to move to the USA now?! The country is literally bankrupt, they are still indenial

[jalanperak]

What if you enter the USA on a tourist visa but then change your mind and decide that you want to look for work?

Then you apply for an immigration visa or an H1-B visa (assuming you meet the qualifications). Waiting time varies considerably, but is usually pretty long (months to years).

Who wants to move to the USA now?! The country is literally bankrupt, they are still indenial

I was answering the "how," not the "why."

[Joseph27]

There does seem to be an abundance of Thia, Vietnamese, Filipino, Indonesian, Russian, Laos, and other young ladies (and pretend ladies) who come in on tourist visas but end up making the 2 week visa count