<p>I've no clue where to post this, so I'll just post it here.</p>
<p>I have a friend who's coming to US as an international student. My friend is thinking of starting a business (no idea how), and would like to know if there are laws that one should be aware of for a situation like this? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Your friend might have trouble getting the type of visa he needs.</p>
<p>I am no expert at this, but an F-1 student visa does not allow one to work in the States and though I am not 100% sure, I think that applies to starting a business as well.</p>
<p>The only visas that let you start a business that I am aware of are E-visas. To get one of those, however, one has to make a serious financial investment. </p>
<p>(The investment may not be marginal. It must generate significantly more income than just to provide a living to the investor and family, or it must have a significant economic impact in the United States; the investor must have control of the funds, and the investment must be at risk in the commercial sense. Loans secured with the assets of the investment enterprise are not allowed)</p>
<p>Thank you very much! I'll look more into the visas.</p>
<p>you are allowd to work 20 hrs a week on F1, but dont know if starting one's own business is included in that. i guess he could talk to his professors and student clubs at his college and do it as an activity of the business club.</p>
<p>But the 20 hours must be work done for the college and on college grounds.
You can work in the cafeteria, be a lifeguard or a teaching assistant, but you cannot work for an insurance company (except for OPT or CPT) and I am reasonably sure that you cannot start a company on a F-1 visa as well.</p>
<p>you are very right.</p>
<p>doing it as a business society project seems to be a way i guess</p>