Can I work for a foreign company and still hold an H-1B?

Not in the traditional sense. The H-1B is an employer-sponsored work visa: it exists so that a company with a real operation in the United States can hire a foreign professional in a specialized role. The relationship is with the employer who filed the petition, and that is who the authorized work must be performed for.

For that reason, working solely for a foreign company that has no presence or contracting entity in the United States generally does not fit within the H-1B. The visa presupposes a genuine local sponsor, responsible for the job offer and the obligations of the process.

There are intermediate situations that often generate confusion:

• Multinational companies with a branch or subsidiary in the US can serve as the sponsoring employer, even if the group originates abroad.
• The worksite may vary within the US, as long as the relationship with the American sponsor is maintained as stated in the petition.
• Working remotely from the US solely for a foreign parent company, without a local entity, tends to fall outside the scope of the visa.

Since each business arrangement is evaluated individually, it is worth confirming the current requirements at the official source (USCIS) and reviewing your specific situation with a specialist before planning any strategy.

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.