QUESTION
Can a F1 OPT status individual start a small business?
Asked on Oct 08th, 2013 on Immigration - Florida
More details to this question:
- I have a full time job which is directly with my field of study (Microbiology), as my OPT status requires: Post Doctoral Fellow at UF - Business to be opened is outside the field of study - since 2012, I declare my taxes as if I was american (French born) -I will be president of the business but will not be an employee and therefore will not receive a paycheck, just working to make this business eventually profitable.
1 ANSWER
Immigration and Nationality Law Attorney serving New York, NY
Partner at
Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Attorneys at Law
3 Awards
While there would not be a violation of status for an F-1 student on OPT to start a small business, it would be a violation of status for that individual to work in the business. Not receiving a paycheck would not lessen the violation since the goal of running the business would be for you to make a profit.Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.
Answered on Oct 13th, 2013 at 8:53 AM