HYDERABAD: A Telugu man in the United States faced confrontation from a social media content creator over alleged violation of H-1B visa rules while operating a food truck in Texas.
A video of the exchange has gone viral online.
Allegations over food truck operations
Texas-based YouTuber
In a video posted on YouTube, Gonzales claimed this case reflects a pattern. She alleged that some H-1B holders operate businesses in the name of H-4 visa holders. She cited documents and deposition records to support her claims.
According to her, Naveen's H-1B visa is sponsored by Flexera Global Inc. She also said he described himself as the "master chef" of the food truck.
The food truck's social media pages show operations in Denton, McKinney, Frisco, and Aubrey. It runs daily from evening hours until midnight.
Heated exchange at food truck
Naveen denied all allegations during the confrontation. He said he still works with Flexera and only visited the food truck to fix a printer.
"I am off duty. Can't I help my wife?" he said. He added that he was not getting paid and understood the visa rules.
When asked about his wife's absence, he responded, "Business owners are not always present at their workplaces."
The exchange soon turned heated. Gonzales accused him of violating visa norms and demanded an apology. Naveen, in turn, asked her to leave, calling it trespassing.
Legal debate over visa rules
The video has triggered a wider debate online. Users are discussing whether his actions violate immigration laws.
Under US immigration rules, H-1B visa holders can work only for their sponsoring employer. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services clearly states that they cannot take up additional work, whether paid or unpaid.
Experts warn of 'fine line'
Immigration analyst Rajeshwar Rao said even limited involvement in a business can raise legal concerns.
"Helping in a business can count as unauthorised work," he said. "The business earns money from that work, even if the person is not on payroll."
He added that the boundary remains very narrow. "Many people misunderstand the rules and go beyond what is allowed," he said.