How can an international student on an F-1 visa do on-line freelance work?
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How can an international student on an F-1 visa do on-line freelance work?
I am an international student about to commence an MA. I’m here on a F-1 student visa. I had intended to participate in 2 different writing programs, both of which pay a stipend for me to submit articles on-line. I had also intended to write a few freelance articles, again to be published on-line, while in the US. My school informs me that this is a very grey legal area, and that doing so could be in violation of my visa. I would like to know exactly what my legal positions is, and how I could safely continue with the work I had lined up.
Asked on August 25, 2011 New York
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
In oder to be sure as to whether or not you are allowed to do this writing project for a small stipend while you are in this country on a F-1 student visa as part of your advanced education pursuit so as to not be in violation of your approved visa, you need to contact the nearest United States Department of Immigration and Naturalization office and speak with a representative on the subject to get some initial opinion if such work would be in violation of your student visa.
If the representative gives an opinion that such writing would not violate the student visa, you need to follow up with that person via an e mail or some other form of written communication confirming the opinion while keeping a copy of the transmission for future reference and need if necessary.
Good luck.
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