Working as an independent contractor is a great way to earn a living or to make extra income. As an independent contractor, you have the autonomy to set your own guidelines for how you want to work and when. Anyone, regardless of immigration status, may engage in independent contractor work without work authorization or an SSN.
As an independent contractor, you are self-employed and you produce a specific type of work product in a determined amount of time. Some independent contract work is considered a gig, such as performing music at events or driving for a ride-share service, and other times it’s considered a professional service such as producing fine art or landscaping.
What’s important is that you have a vision in front of you about how this work is going to not only bring in income, but also how it might be personally gratifying and sustainable.