Freelance jobs for non-US employer

[sh2017]

Hello,

I am currently on H1B visa. However, I am in the process of exploring alternate career options as I would like to move away from the kind of job I am doing right now. So, I am trying to take online courses and see if I can gain some experience in these other fields. I also came across certain freelance jobs offered by companies based in India and Singapore. I am interested in them primarily to gain experience in that field and not to make money. So, my question is: While I am on H1B, am I allowed to take up these freelance jobs if the employer is not in US? It looks like they pay in USD also, but since they are not based in US, they are not going to provide any tax forms. I just want to make sure if it is legal to explore this option before I get into that path.

Thank you!

[JoeF]

You can NOT do such jobs. It doesn't matter where the company is located, it matters where you are located. If you are in the US on H1 you can ONLY work for the employer who filed your H1.

Also, you have to declare your worldwide income on your US tax returns.

Edited October 1, 2019 by JoeF