[xyzzyz]

Whether they actually violate visa laws really depends on particular circumstances. Getting paid Ukrainian salaries actually makes it more likely that what they're doing is completely fine from USCIS point of view. Employees of multinationals such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Intel etc. who live and work outside of the US routinely travel to US on B2 visa for various work purposes. It really depends on how long you are planning to stay, what exactly you are planning to do, etc.

[GFischer]

It does violate the letter of the law. B1 visa is only for training, meetings, conferences, etc, if you work remotely for an U.S. company you're not supposed to work while there, only training and meetings. Not sure if you work for a foreign entity (maybe Facebook Ireland is a separate, foreign entity for B1 visa purposes, and maybe they're being paid by an Ukranian entity in Ukrania). B2 is the tourism visa, so definitely no work, but most people get a dual B1/B2 visa.

Edit: apparently the key part is "no salary/income from a U.S. based source". So maybe they're in the right.

In practice, if they're only staying for a few months I don't know if USCIS will care, unless they get caught red-handed.

I wouldn't want to argue with USCIS about the letter of the law though, they'll deport first, ask questions later.

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/BusinessVisa%20Pu...

[xyzzyz]

Ah, I meant to write that they routinely travel on _B1_ visa for work purposes -- I confused which one is tourist, and which one is business visa. And yes, the difference here is mostly immaterial, since most people simply get a dual B1/B2 visa.

> I wouldn't want to argue with USCIS about the letter of the law though, they'll deport first, ask questions later.

I don't think that's how it works in practice. It is quite rare that people are deported in cases like this, and much less on a short notice too.