H4 visa and UK freelance work - is there any way??

msw · May 9th 2011, 2:15 pm

Hi,
I am on H4 visa at the moment, been in the US for a couple of months.

For the past few years I have done some freelance work, on top of my job at home in the UK. In moving here, I (foolishly) thought it would be ok to continue with the freelance work- it is a UK 'employer' and payments made to my UK account. It is only a small amount of work really, earning £1-2000 per year. I wanted to do it just to keep my hand in/brain ticking over etc.

I have read loads of threads on here saying H4s cannot do any kind of work in the US - even if based abroad. But! I also saw a couple of threads saying it is a grey area (if payments made in uK etc). Has anyone actually done this? Is it legal?? Is there any hope at all !!!???!! I suspect not

H4 is harsh!

Thanks.

GeoffM · May 9th 2011, 2:46 pm

If you are physically present on US soil while doing the work then... not allowed. Any chance of getting your own H1B or similar?

**Bob** · May 9th 2011, 3:16 pm

The grey area is usually for having stuff already online for sale, where you make a passive income from.

This, well this is actual work and if physically present in the US, you would need work authorisation to do it. So no, you can't do this while in the US.

msw · May 9th 2011, 3:37 pm

Hi,
OK, thanks for your relies. No chance really of me getting an HB1 visa - i have a honours degree but don't work in that field. Have a 18 years experience working in voluntary sector (homelessness, domestic violence etc), much at management level, but from what I have read I don't think I would have any chance at all of getting a visa in my own right

We have 2 young children so I wouldn't really want full time at this point anyway. That's why the freelance work seemed perfect, I could do it at night/early morning (ie around kids).

It is just such a culture shock not to work at all! Might look into an OU course now....

Any other ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

**Bob** · May 9th 2011, 3:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by msw

It is just such a culture shock not to work at all! Might look into an OU course now....

Good luck with that, but you can't register if you aren't a UK resident...but perhaps try something at a local community college, even online?

ian-mstm · May 9th 2011, 4:26 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by msw

It is just such a culture shock not to work at all!

There's a reason the H-4 is known as the "visa from hell".

Ian

Boiler · May 10th 2011, 12:37 am

There is also the practical point of view which you can work out for yourself.

May 9th 2011, 2:15 pm	#1
msw Just Joined Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 12	H4 visa and UK freelance work - is there any way?? Hi, I am on H4 visa at the moment, been in the US for a couple of months. For the past few years I have done some freelance work, on top of my job at home in the UK. In moving here, I (foolishly) thought it would be ok to continue with the freelance work- it is a UK 'employer' and payments made to my UK account. It is only a small amount of work really, earning £1-2000 per year. I wanted to do it just to keep my hand in/brain ticking over etc. I have read loads of threads on here saying H4s cannot do any kind of work in the US - even if based abroad. But! I also saw a couple of threads saying it is a grey area (if payments made in uK etc). Has anyone actually done this? Is it legal?? Is there any hope at all !!!???!! I suspect not H4 is harsh! Thanks. Last edited by msw : May 9th 2011 at 2:17 pm.

May 9th 2011, 2:46 pm	#2
GeoffM BE Forum Addict GeoffM's Blog Joined: Feb 2010 Location: Walnut, CA Posts: 2,802	Re: H4 visa and UK freelance work - is there any way?? If you are physically present on US soil while doing the work then... not allowed. Any chance of getting your own H1B or similar? __________________ One year in southern California so far

May 9th 2011, 3:16 pm	#3
Bob Not so super superslob Moderator Bob's Gallery Joined: Aug 2004 Location: MA, USA Posts: 79,477	Re: H4 visa and UK freelance work - is there any way?? The grey area is usually for having stuff already online for sale, where you make a passive income from. This, well this is actual work and if physically present in the US, you would need work authorisation to do it. So no, you can't do this while in the US. __________________ When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half. ~ Gracie Allen You can only be young once. But you can always be immature. ~ Dave Barry Immigrants should be tarred and feathered....Yes, I like it kinky.

May 9th 2011, 3:37 pm	#4
msw Just Joined Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 12	Re: H4 visa and UK freelance work - is there any way?? Hi, OK, thanks for your relies. No chance really of me getting an HB1 visa - i have a honours degree but don't work in that field. Have a 18 years experience working in voluntary sector (homelessness, domestic violence etc), much at management level, but from what I have read I don't think I would have any chance at all of getting a visa in my own right We have 2 young children so I wouldn't really want full time at this point anyway. That's why the freelance work seemed perfect, I could do it at night/early morning (ie around kids). It is just such a culture shock not to work at all! Might look into an OU course now.... Any other ideas/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

May 10th 2011, 12:37 am	#7
Boiler Lost in BE Cyberspace Joined: Mar 2004 Location: ex Boulder County, Colorado, now a lot lot higher. Posts: 14,093	Re: H4 visa and UK freelance work - is there any way?? There is also the practical point of view which you can work out for yourself. __________________ David Warning: My answers may be deceptively simple and quite likely incomplete.

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