Legal immigrant in US without work visa—how to earn?

If you are a legal immigrant in the United States but do not have a work visa or employment authorization, you cannot legally work for a US employer. Doing so could violate your immigration status and cause problems for future visa or green card applications.

However, there are limited legal ways to earn money without formal employment authorization:

1. Passive income – You can earn from investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, interest from savings accounts, or rental income from property you already own.

2. Income from outside the US – You may work for clients or companies based outside the US and receive payment in a non US bank account, provided the work is not considered employment in the US under immigration law.

3. Selling personal items – You can sell used personal belongings, such as clothing or electronics, through online marketplaces.

4. Gifts or financial support – You can receive monetary gifts from family or friends without it being classified as employment income.

If you want to work in the US legally, you will need to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or change to a visa status that allows employment, such as an H 1B, O 1, or employment based green card.