What is H-4 visa and how can you earn money on it in America!

 

1. What is H-4 visa?

H-4 visa is a dependent visa of America. It is given to those people who are spouse or children (younger than 21 years) of a person working in America on H-1B visa.

 

2. Is it possible to work on H-4 visa?

 There is no direct permission to work on H-4 visa. But under certain circumstances, H-4 visa holder can get EAD (Employment Authorization Document) i.e. work permit.

 

3. Best Two main ways to earn money on H-4 visa:

 
(A) If you have EAD:

If your spouse (on H-1B) has received green card process (I-140 approval), then you can apply for EAD.

  • Once you have an EAD, you can:
  • Work full-time or part-time
  • Freelance work
  • Start your own small business.


Process for an EAD:

  • Fill out Form I-765 from the USCIS website.
  • Attach required documents (passport, H-4 status, copy of I-140, etc.).
  • Pay application fee.
  • Wait for biometric appointment and approval (can take a few weeks to months).

 

(B) If you don't have an EAD:

 

Without an EAD, you cannot work in the US. But you can do the following things if they are not considered "work" in the US:

  • Blogging / YouTube (if earning money in India and not providing services in the US)
  • Creating Online Courses (selling in India)
  • Stock Market Investment (long-term investing allowed)
  • Working on Indian Freelancing Platform, but caution is a must (this is a legal gray area)


4. Things to keep in mind:

  • Earning money in the US without an EAD can be considered illegal and may result in visa cancellation. 
  • Perform formal or official work only after getting an EAD. 
  • Consult a lawyer about your activities, especially when earning online or through freelancing.

 

If you want, I can also provide a step-by-step process for applying for an EAD or a list of safe ways to earn online. Are you interested in any of these?

I am telling you safe, legal and practical ways of earning for both H-4 visa holders and students in simple Hindi:

 

A. Ways of earning for H-4 visa holders (Legal Options):

 
1. If you have EAD (Work Permit):

    • You can take up any job: 
    • Jobs in private companies
    • Work from home jobs
    • Freelancing (like content writing, graphic designing)
    • Opening your own business (Online store, Salon, Bakery etc.)
  •  
    2. If you don't have EAD: 

You cannot get a job in the US, but you can do these things:


(i) Work that will earn you money in India:

  • Blogging / YouTube Channel (earnings in India)
  • Freelancing for India-based clients (On Upwork, Fiverr only if money goes to India)
  • Online Teaching – like teaching children in India (through Zoom/Skype).


(ii) Through Investment Income:

  • Stock market (long-term investing)
  • Mutual Funds
  • Cryptocurrency (long-term only, speculative)

 

Note: Do all this only if there is no income-tax issue – please consult your CA or Visa attorney.

 

 B. Ways of earning for students studying in the US (on F-1 visa):

 

1. On-Campus Job:

  • Work in library, cafeteria, lab in the university campus
  • Work is allowed up to 20 hours a week

 
2. CPT (Curricular Practical Training):

  • Internship during the course. 
  • Can work outside with the permission of the college.

 

3. OPT (Optional Practical Training): 

  • Permission to work for 12 months after completion of studies.
  • Students in STEM fields get a 24-month extension.

 

4. Part-time Online Freelancing (Only if allowed):

 In some cases, it may be possible to freelance from clients outside the US company – but for this, it is necessary to check the visa rules.

 

C. Some Safe Ideas for Both H-4 and Students:

 
1. Online Work Ideas (India-targeted):

  • Affiliate Marketing by creating a page on Instagram/Facebook.
  • Earn commission by promoting products from Amazon India, Meesho, etc.
  • Create and sell digital products (eBooks, PDFs).


2. Learn skills and earn later:

  • Canva Design,
  • Video Editing (CapCut, Filmora, Adobe),
  • Freelance Writing,
  • Coding (Web Design, App Development).

 

D. Important Tips

  • Earning money in the US without a work permit can be illegal – always work within the limits of the law.
  • Don’t forget to pay taxes – keep information on your earnings in India as well.
  • Be sure to consult a visa expert or immigration attorney before starting work.


 If you want, I can create a PDF guide of "10 safe ways to earn money from home" or even a checklist for you to start freelancing. Would you like any of these? 

 

If you are living in the USA (e.g. on an H-4 visa) and do not have a work permit (EAD) yet, you can still prepare yourself for a job in the USA in the future by learning skill-based work. Below are some jobs and courses that can help you get a job in USA companies — and some you can start right away for India.

 

High Demand Skill-Based Jobs in USA:

 
1. Bookkeeping / Accounting Assistant

  • If you have a commerce background, then this is best for you.
  • Learn tools like QuickBooks, Xero.
  • Provide accounting support to small businesses (work from home is also possible).


2. Digital Marketing 

  • Learn social media marketing, Google Ads, SEO
  • Path for freelancing/agency or full-time USA jobs


3. Data Entry / Admin Assistant

  •  Should have good knowledge of MS Excel, Google Sheets
  •  Remote work can be easily found

 

4. Business Analyst

  • Suitable for commerce graduates
  • Learn MS Excel, Power BI, Tableau, basic SQL

 

5. Customer Support / Virtual Assistant

  • Communication skills should be good
  • Email, call, and chat support has to be done

 

6. UI/UX Designing

  • Cn start with tools like Canva, Figma
  • Good option for creative women

 

7. Coding / Web Development

  • HTML, Learn CSS, JavaScript and build websites 
  • Many USA startups hire beginners as well

 

Popular Free & Paid Platforms to Learn:

  • Coursera (with certificate) 
  • LinkedIn Learning 
  • Hubspot Academy (Digital marketing) 
  • Google Career Certificates (Data analytics, IT support)
  • QuickBooks Training (for accounting jobs)

 

Earning from USA Clients through Freelancing (after EAD):

  • Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, Toptal
  • You can get work from clients from both India and USA
  • Blogging + Affiliate Marketing

 

Extra Tips: 

  1. Make sure to create a LinkedIn profile – to attract USA recruiters 
  2. Get your resume in USA format
  3. Work on your Interview skills and spoken English 
  4. Gain experience by freelancing from India clients initially, then move on to USA clients

If you want, I can create a “6-month USA preparation skill-building plan” for you or I can tell you which course would be best in Bookkeeping / Digital Marketing. Which field are you interested in?