How to Make Money While Studying in the U.S.
As you plan to study in the U.S., maybe you’re thinking of ways you could make money during your time in the country. This is somewhat complex, as you can’t just work in the U.S. without the proper documentation, but here are some tips to help you figure out how to earn some cash while in the USA:
You can work on campus with the right visa
As you look into visas and studying at a specific school, you want to know whether or not you can work while in the country with that visa. With an F-1 visa, there are opportunities, such as OPT or STEM OPT Extension and Curricular Practical Training. There are also options for working as an intern on a student visa, such as the J-1 visa.
Make sure to open a U.S. bank student account so that you can easily receive and use money in the U.S. without any issues that would accompany a foreign card. As you look for a school, make sure you speak with your student counselor to get all the information you need to choose the correct visa.
Consider investing in the stock market
You can invest while in the U.S., so if you have some expertise in investing in stocks, this could be the perfect way for you to play around with your money during your time studying in the USA. However, don’t surpass four transactions a week.
If you do, you’ll be doing something illegal, as in the eyes of U.S. law, you’d be trading, which isn’t allowed for most visa holders.
Ask friends and family to send you money every now and then
Hey, if you need a little help while studying in the U.S., it’s understandable. It’s getting more expensive these days, and depending on the city you may be studying in, the cost of living may be pretty high.
Consider setting up an account or using a money-sending app to make it easy for your friends and family to send some cash whenever possible. While it can be embarrassing to ask for financial support, if it helps you achieve your educational goals, you’ll more than likely return the favor later. This is definitely a great money-saving hack since you can save what you have and spend the money others give you.
Participate in competitions and enter contests
You’re allowed to win money from competitions, so if you’re looking for a unique way to make some extra cash while in the country, consider submitting your work to different contests. Some options offer pretty large prize sums, so you never know—you could make a lot of money from sharing your artsy talent, whether that’s art or writing.
Submit work for publication abroad
If you’re studying in the U.S., you can’t make money from businesses in the U.S., especially without the correct visa. However, you can always submit that manuscript or report you’ve been working on in another country.
If you make money from it, that’s yours to keep, as you’re not actually making money in the U.S. or taking away work from U.S. citizens.
In Conclusion
It’s tricky to work in the U.S. on a student visa when studying abroad, but it’s certainly not impossible. You want to make sure you educate yourself before going through the visa process so that you can be sure to follow the laws of the land.
If you need some extra cash, consider the methods above for making money so that you have money to spare while living in the U.S., where the cost of living can be a bit high in certain locations.
