My status: H1B + i140 approved (6 months completed)
Wife's status: H4 (applied for H4-EAD in July 2024)
My wife has a small business In India that she operates from here. She is currently in India (has been in India since Nov'24) and is traveling back to US (Jan'25) via Abu Dhabi.
1. Is she allowed to work for her India company in US? Everything she earns is in INR
2. If asked at port of entry, do you work in India, should she say yes or no?
An H-4 visa holder operating a small business in India from the U.S. could potentially violate their visa status, even if earnings are in Indian rupees. At the port of entry, honesty is essential—lying could lead to a permanent U.S. entry ban, which is hard to waive.
While it's unclear if this constitutes a status violation, it’s a borderline case. To avoid risks, it’s advisable not to engage in such activities while on H-4 status.