Work VisaJan 21, 2019
PayPalkAJb16

Is it legal to drive Uber and Lyft on work visa ?

I see lots of Indians driving uber and lyft. I dont think all of them have legal authorization to do so. Is it even legal ? Once I was picked by a Student from Hyderabad who was driving for someone else !! Big safety concern for me. Update : tagged uber and lyft

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Verizon imNotGay Jan 21, 2019

It depends, how much of the needful would you do in your car?

Medallia fixed Jan 21, 2019

Don’t get in the car if you don’t want to. Otherwise mind your own business. People just trying to make a living.

PayPal kAJb16 OP Jan 21, 2019

illegal immigrant alert !! haha jokes apart, how comfortable would you be when you send your son/daughter/wife/ anyone u care with someone imperonating as Uber driver ?

Medallia fixed Jan 21, 2019

Either way the answer is: if you don’t feel comfortable getting in the car, DONT. This fear mongering about illegal immigrants is just childish.

Microsoft UMbR31 Jan 21, 2019

I'm yet to be picked up by Chad Thunder on Uber, wonder if everyone else is illegal.

Walmart.com potts Jan 21, 2019

They need to be citizens or have an EAD Card . If not , they are breaking the laws . Law does not even allow one to drive on OPT visa . IRS mandates that if you are earning > .63$ / mile , it is not for reimbursement but for supplementary source of income . I could provide you referral link for scoop or for Waze carpool but I would not be anonymous anymore

PayPal kAJb16 OP Jan 21, 2019

Not willing to drive. But was alarmed when person with fake identity picked me up. thanks for offer though

Microsoft richardhea Jan 21, 2019

Report them to USCIS. This bullshit won’t stop until there are consequences. 🍆

Oscar Tender Jan 21, 2019

Oh cmon

New
bhitsalls Jan 21, 2019

I think u shud report to uber. Dont spam ICE.

LexisNexis Risk Solutions XgsJva6 Jan 21, 2019

I had asked my Uber Driver in SF. He told me that his EB-5 Visa is in process and has applied for EAD.

Uber zerxifk Jan 21, 2019

EAD should be fine to drive

Intel hton Jan 21, 2019

People on student visa(OPT) or work visa H1b aren't allowed to drive for Uber or Lyft. They can drive for scoop (considered as supplemental income). I use Uber occasionally and even I've noticed that most of the students from Hyderabad drive for Uber (some of them even under a fake name) illegally. Next time I find one, I'm definitely going to email Uber to investigate the identify of the driver. It's important because these people misuse the loopholes in the law if they feel there won't be any consequences. PS: I'm not saying everyone from that Indian state does this. There are good, law-abiding Hyderabad people here too.

PayPal kAJb16 OP Jan 21, 2019

yeah This post is not against any country/city/race or even company. Uber/Lyft cant keep a tab on who actually drives car. Its upto honesty of drivers otherwise US will soon become like any other downfalling country

Qualcomm imqi Jan 21, 2019

"They can drive for scoop (considered as supplemental income)." Where did you hear this? Scoop? or some immigration lawyer or USCIS itself? Last I remember, the H1B allows you to work for your sponsoring employer at a specified location (high skilled, high tech etc). H1B does not allow you to "earn" any other way. Rent money, bank interest, dividends and capital gains from investments are considered passive income, hence allowed. Earning money from driving a cab is earning, and participating in the labor market, which people on H1B, OPT are not allowed to do. Having said that, a lot of them do, and work at gas stations, convenience stores etc, which is all illegal and in my opinion should be reported.

Amazon 6 to go Jan 21, 2019

Yeah, if those driving with fake name get into an accident and you are injured don't expect there will be any insurance coverage to pay your medical bills. For sure they are uninsured drivers.

OneMarket ri0ts Jan 21, 2019

This ☝️. Yes, was there. Not fun.

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bhitsalls Jan 21, 2019

Can one sue uber? clearly they should be held liable for hiring illegals and underinsured drivers.

Ness Technologies __|__ Jan 21, 2019

Uber is such a shit company. It doesn’t screen the drivers well.

Gilead Sciences Viekira Jan 21, 2019

Uber and Lyft just ask for a social security number and DL. They are not actually checking for immigration status. This is a massive loophole in the system -- employers are required to check the status of their employees on e-verify before running their payroll. However, Uber/Lyft drivers are supposed to be independent contractors so they are not being verified. Your observation that many Indians are driving illegally is correct. I am an Indian scientist and currently on H1B myself. I went to grad school in the US so I am very familiar with student visa system as well. I have been picked up by Indians several times in the Bay area and while traveling around the country, and I can immediately tell they are not legally authorized to drive for Uber or Lyft. There is one specific region of southern India where most of these folks come from - two states of Andhra and Telangana. The folks of that region have figured all ways of exploiting the visa system and settling cheap unskilled labor in the US on H1Bs and green cards. There is really very low respect for rules in that community so it is not surprising at all. It is not just Indians though, international students from all over are driving illegally. The student visa specifically states that you can not take an employment opportunity outside your school, or as authorized by the school (internships related to degree). I have been picked up by an African and middle eastern students several times while traveling in the DC area - I can figure out within 2 minutes of a conversation that they are not supposed to be doing this.