http://www.immspec.com/h4-visa.htm H-4 visa holders are allowed to full time or part time study during their stay in the United States. Under any circumstance, H4 visa holders are not authorized to earn income in the U.S. To be precise, an H4 holder can not be employed while in the U.S. If the visa holder desires to work in the country, he/she must obtain a work visa, which is a non-immigrant visa that allows the person to temporarily live and work in the U.S. Foreign nationals who start employment without the proper visa are breaking the law and may be expelled.