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Comment by jedmeyers | Hacker News Reader

Are you flying from overseas on tourist visa?

You want to know what, I'm going to call you out for this. I don't like people who are politically correct, and if you work for the Government, and truly believe that someone can "work" in another country without actually really working (in my opinion) because they're not making any money, and then have that person be rejected at the border for life (yes this really happens), among other things, for planning to "work" (according to you), for no money, you're part of the problem. This person is not asking for money. Stop trying to loop them into getting themselves in trouble, by admitting anything like that on a public forum, because I see you as potentially a politically-correct government troll collecting intelligence for evil purposes.

Or this is an innocent question leading up a civil discussion of US law :)

I know a person who was helping his girlfriend in the US paint a house, for no money, who got deported for "working" even though there was no money involved, and it destroyed his relationship and now has him banned from the Republic. I have strong feelings about an overbearing government and was speaking my mind. It was also a warning to the person who posted the thread not to tell people anything like that on a public forum, as a public service.

Are you aware that border officials don't care about whether you are receiving compensation? If you are doing work an American could have performed they'll care.

Note: I'm Canadian but live close to the border and cross occasionally.

Yes, that's why I was suggesting the guy say nothing about his citizenship/visa status if he was indeed planning to help people for free. I'm the type of guy, where even if I'm open-minded about the government (and might even help them with my startup), I'm sticking up the little guy.

I would personally never "work" in the US without the right visa, because I am well-aware of the laws and am a very knowledgable man. I'm also reasonable, and the US government is not reasonable sometimes. I see that changing under Donald Trump, because I firmly believe that he will change his mind and end up being socially liberal because of people like Peter Thiel. I'm just doing a public service for this innocent man.

what does this have to do with trump?

Previous presidents enabled laws around people being considered "working" when they're not making a dime and it's destroyed families because noones considered changing it yet. I'd like to see Trump change that.

Downvote the fuck out of me, do I care? Of course not. I will always stick up for the little guy even when it's unpopular.

You care enough about down-voting to comment on it. Please don't.

"Previous presidents enabled laws around people being considered "working" when they're not making a dime"

Please identify any one such law. Bonus points for describing how a President implements laws on his own.

Look, DrScump, if a Canadian (like the one I know) can get deported for helping his girlfriend who he spent 6 months of the year with (because he legally could without "working" with his visa), with painting a house for free, realistically there are laws and regulations which are an impediment to freedom. Times are changing, and I'm going to be the messenger, so that people like the guy who posted this remain free, even if it's unpopular and could keep me away from getting an investment, or help by performing a public service by telling him why he should say nothing to people about stuff like this if he was planning to help people for free. You can't help people for free and have freedom at the same time, according to past US government administrations, apparently.

Also, US Presidents on both sides of the political spectrum have issued "Executive Orders" to bypass both Congress and the Senate and write things into law. They are considered unconstitutional by some, and constitutional by others.

What a great person you are, liberator of the downtrodden immigrant! A divinely ordained role one must assume.

Haha! A person who believes in free speech I am. An otherwise legal immigrant who wants to help his girlfriend paint a house for free, being discriminated against, exiled from a country for life and having his love with his lady being shattered because of unreasonable governments (such as my friend)? No way. Never happens. I'm kidding. I will always stick up for what I believe in, even when it makes my karma on HN go from 10 to -1. By the way, I'm going to strongly suggest that this person not "work" for free (there's no money involved, room and board are NOT money) in a foreign country like the United States, the freest country in the world and also the most incarcerated population in the world. I'm also saying that if he does, he should shut his mouth and not tell people on HN.

He is not planning to help "for free", he is planning to help in return for compensation which in this case will be "room and board". And I was asking the original question because not everyone who comes to the US on a tourist visa understands that this is not allowed and if something goes wrong this situation might turn ugly for him. If your suggestion is "break the law just be quiet about it" then I will just say that I don't recommend doing that.

What a bizarre rant.

I'm not sure what I find more absurd about your comment: it's either the fact that you think of yourself as some sort of self-appointed immigrant savior, or the cognitive dissonance you display when it comes to your political beliefs.

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