Can I do consulting alongside my main activity?

The United States immigration law is quite strict regarding the activities allowed for each visa category, especially for the O visa. This visa is intended for professionals who demonstrate extraordinary abilities in their fields of expertise, and therefore is linked to specific activities defined in the petition approved by the Immigration Department.

Generally, if you have an O visa, you are authorized to work only for the employers or agents specified in your petition. This means that if you wish to carry out consulting activities alongside your main occupation, it is essential to ensure that this activity is also covered by the granted work authorization.

If the consulting activity is not explicitly included in the original petition, it will be necessary that the new employment relationship is formalized separately, usually through a concurrent petition demonstrating that the consulting activity also fits the O visa criteria.

It is very important that you strictly follow the country”s immigration laws. Before starting any additional activities, we recommend that you seek support from specialists or companies specialized in immigration, who can analyze your case and guide you through the necessary procedures to avoid future issues. Beware of miracle promises or marketing campaigns that guarantee easy solutions for these matters, as non-compliance with the rules may lead to a violation of your visa conditions.

Keeping all requirements and authorizations up-to-date is fundamental so you can take advantage of professional opportunities in the United States without interrupting your immigration status. Thus, parallel consulting may be a possibility, but only if duly regularized with the competent authorities.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.