Can I work at a foreign branch of my company while on H-1B?

The H-1B authorizes a professional to work in the United States for the employer that sponsored the petition, in the role and at the location approved. It was not designed to provide full flexibility regarding where the work takes place.

Working at a foreign branch of the same company therefore falls outside the direct scope of the visa. The H-1B governs work authorization within U.S. territory; what the person does outside the United States is subject to other rules, tied to the country where the work occurs and the type of assignment.

This does not mean that a stint at an overseas office is automatically prohibited, but it does mean it must be evaluated carefully to avoid conflicting with the terms approved in the petition and to prevent issues with maintaining status or re-entering the country.

• Confirm which work location is listed in the H-1B petition.
• Treat international assignments as a separate scenario that may require its own steps.
• Consider the impact of extended absences on the continuity of your status.

Because every arrangement has its own specifics, the best course of action is to align with your employer and a specialist before accepting work at a foreign branch and to check the latest guidance from the official source (USCIS).

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.