# Is collecting UC abroad illegal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-collecting-uc-abroad-illegal/249337 "2004-06-08T21:25:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![altiod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@altiod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/altiod)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-collecting-uc-abroad-illegal/249337/1 "2004-06-08T21:25:00Z")
Recently, I was laid off (yet again, sigh) from my art teaching job. I will be eligible for unemployment if I do not find work soon. The job market for Art is crap from what I have seen and I was thinking of moving overseas to get a job. I can file on-line and get my checks direct deposited, so logistically I can get unemployment compensation from overseas. As long as I don’t work and collect at the same time, this should be legal and I have not found info that says otherwise. However, when I tell people about this idea they seem to think that this is not legal but they can’t tell me why. Is it legal to collect while unemployed overseas? ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-collecting-uc-abroad-illegal/249337/2 "2004-06-08T21:48:29Z")
I am by no means an expert on the subject, never having filed for unemployment myself (knock wood – although I certainly know lots of people who have), but I believe the whole point is that you are supposed to be able to show you are making reasonable efforts to look for a job. I imagine there is a great deal of variation in what kind of proof state unemployment agencies will accept, but I also imagine they are going to have a hard time calling Kathmandu or wherever to verify that you’ve gone on interviews there. Methinks you need to talk to your state unemployment agency. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-collecting-uc-abroad-illegal/249337/3 "2004-06-08T22:09:03Z")
Ditto to Eva Luna, in that you will be required to show you are actively looking for work to collect unemployment. Since work overseas would typically require a work visa, I don’t think you’re going to have much luck convincing them. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-collecting-uc-abroad-illegal/249337/4 "2004-06-08T22:47:09Z")
I visited several state unemployment office web sites and all offer information similar to the [State of California](http://www.edd.ca.gov/uirep/uimer.htm) UI web site: > [@](#): > > # Have received enough wages during the base period to establish a claim > > # Be totally or partially unemployed > > # Be unemployed through no fault of their own > > \*\*# Be physically able to work > > # Be available for work which means to be ready and willing to immediately accept work > > # Be actively looking for work\*\* > > # Meet eligibility requirements each week benefits are claimed > > # Be approved for training before training benefits can be paid (Bolding mine.) Having lived overseas for a spell, but generally speaking, you cannot move overseas to look for a job in that country. Instead _while in your home country_ you must find and secure a job in a foreign country _and then move there_. What if you manage to move overseas and look for work your state UI office calls stating they have a job for you, and it starts tomorrow? How do you explain the fraud? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-collecting-uc-abroad-illegal/249337/5 "2004-06-08T23:15:32Z")
I believe all of you are looking at this from the wrong end. **altiod** apparently has every intention of looking for work, and accepting work if found. Whether the unemployment office cares whether that search is performed in Sacramento, St. Louis, Paris, or Timbucktu is something only that office can answer. Of couse, as previously mentioned, getting into a foreign country without a job is going to be difficult to do. ---
**Author:** ![altiod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@altiod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/altiod)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-collecting-uc-abroad-illegal/249337/6 "2004-06-09T00:21:01Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Of course, as previously mentioned, getting into a foreign country without a job is going to be difficult to do. I am considering a few places in SE Asia that all give up to 60-day tourist visas. When I find work, I have to get a new visa and working papers. From what I understand, teachers that speak English are in huge demand and 60 days is enough time to find something. I am just worried about the few weeks time between getting the job and getting paid. Having some UC paid before that point would be a huge help in surviving. If I stay here, the only jobs are in inner city. I am not doing that again.