What if I earn extra income on my H1B work visa?

If you are in the U.S. on an H-1B work visa, you are only legally allowed to earn income from the specific employer and job listed in your visa petition. Earning extra income through Turo, or any other side business, can be considered unauthorized employment if you are actively managing the rental, setting prices, communicating with customers, or performing any work beyond passive ownership.

Passive income, such as returns from investments where you do not materially participate, is generally allowed. However, with Turo, even if you own the car, most hosts are considered to be operating a business because they handle bookings, maintenance, and customer service, which counts as active work.

Engaging in unauthorized employment can violate H-1B visa terms, potentially leading to visa revocation, loss of status, or future immigration complications. If you want to pursue such activity, you would need proper work authorization, change of status, or ensure it is structured as purely passive income with no active involvement. Consulting an immigration attorney before starting is strongly recommended.