Freelancing while temporarily working remotely from India for US-based employer

[mister98]

I am working for a US-based employer on an H1-B visa in the US and am an Indian citizen. I also have an approved I-140. From May 1st, 2023, I am working remotely from India for the same employer. My employer was kind enough to accommodate my personal situation and allowed me to work from India for 4 months while being on the US payroll. While in India, on July 1st, I engaged in a freelancing opportunity (1 hour paid research call as an independent expert/contractor) with another US-based company.  No 1099 or W2 will be issued for this freelancing opportunity. I will be returning to the US in mid-August.

Did I violate any H1-B rules by taking on a freelancing opportunity, specifically when I was outside of the US? I was under the impression that H1-B rules don't apply outside of the US. 

[LeaveMessageH1B]

On 7/29/2023 at 1:53 PM, mister98 said:

Did I violate any H1-B rules by taking on a freelancing opportunity

No you did not, Just to be clear you mentioned Freelancing and then "1 Hour paid research call"...getting paid is not freelancing. 

On 7/29/2023 at 1:53 PM, mister98 said:

I was under the impression that H1-B rules don't apply outside of the US. 

Correct. 

Once you're in US and back on H1B, You can not collect any payments from that "Freelance opportunity".