Can I hold an H-1B and have residency in another country?

Generally, yes. The H-1B is a nonimmigrant visa designed for work in specialty occupations in the United States, and it does not require you to give up residency in another country. It is common to maintain ties with your home country or even split your life between two places, as your employment and personal circumstances allow.

What matters is meeting the conditions of the visa. This includes maintaining your relationship with the employer who sponsored the petition and actually performing the authorized specialty work as approved. The H-1B exists in connection with that work in the U.S.

Maintaining residency and a domicile in another country does, however, have implications that go beyond immigration. There are tax and legal consequences in both territories, which depend on where you live, where the work is performed, and the rules of each country.

Because immigration and tax rules intersect here, it is worth reviewing your specific situation with a qualified professional and checking current requirements before organizing your life between countries.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.