Accused of having worked illegally, what does billionaire Elon Musk say?

Billionaire Elon Musk asserted on October 27th that he had valid business documents when he first arrived in the US, refuting claims that he started his business without a work visa.

"I was actually allowed to work in the U.S. I had a J-1 visa that was converted to an H1-B visa. They keep all my records so they would know this," Elon Musk wrote on social media on October 27.

Earlier on October 26, US President Joe Biden mocked Musk for criticizing illegal immigration to the US, while Musk himself started his business in the country without a work visa.

"The fact that they are losing the election is making them desperate," Musk stated on X.

Billionaire Elon Musk participated in a rally in support of Donald Trump in New York State on October 27.

The J-1 visa allows foreign students to participate in academic programs in the United States, while the H1-B visa allows U.S. businesses to sponsor foreign workers to come to the U.S. to work for a specified period.

The Washington Post published an article on October 26 citing letters, legal documents, and multiple sources that allegedly helped Musk obtain a work visa in 1996, after he had previously been doing business in the US without a permit.

Musk came to the United States in 1995 intending to pursue graduate studies at Stanford University. He did not enroll in that program but instead began building a venture capital startup called Zip2.

According to U.S. federal immigration law, the J-1 visa allows foreign students to work in a few cases, provided the individual has a strong academic record and completes all courses. Musk didn't attend classes at Stanford, instead focusing on building his company, The Washington Post reported.

The newspaper quoted Adam Cohen, a lawyer specializing in work visas in the US, as saying that J-1 visa holders can work in academic-related jobs, but only during or after completing their studies. Furthermore, individuals wishing to work must have a good academic record and written approval from their school.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bi-to-tung-lao-dong-chui-ti-phu-elon-musk-noi-gi-185241028065812321.htm