What Now! F1 Visa Holders Receiving Money In Cash?

It’s already known that the United States authorities have cracked down heavily on the employment avenues in the country. They’ve now started to come down on H1B and F1 visa holders in order to constraint their opportunities.

A social media post has gone viral in Frisco, Texas, claiming that a local restaurant is hiring only F-1 student visa holders and paying them wages in cash or through Zelle, sparking widespread discussion online. The claim spread rapidly on X, shared by users including Carlos Turcios, who says he is affiliated with the Texas State Guard and a local Republican committee.

In an accompanying audio clip, a man called the number listed for what he identified as “Bollywood Pizza House,” an Indian restaurant in Frisco. According to the caller, the person who answered asked about his F-1 student status and mentioned that the restaurant employs students from the University of Texas, inviting him to discuss work in person.

However, no independent verification confirms that the restaurant hires exclusively F-1 students or pays wages only in cash or informal ways, and neither authorities nor the business itself has publicly confirmed the claims. The discussion comes at a time when immigration and visa employment topics are politically sensitive in Texas, with recent actions targeting hiring practices involving other work visas.

Under U.S. immigration rules, F-1 students generally may work only on campus or in authorised off-campus roles under strict conditions, and unapproved work can jeopardise their visa status.