Ask HN: Foreign Student as Cofounder in the US | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Foreign Student as Cofounder in the US

10 pointscyaniderose5 comments

I'm not a US citizen, but I'm studying in the states on an F1 Student Visa (I'm an undergrad) and am interested in doing startups with some friends. However, a major concern I have is that as a foreign student I don't think I'm allowed to have equity in a company that my friends start.

My questions are then, 1) What options do I have in my position as a foreign student in the way of starting up? 2) If we apply for YC in the future, will this affect me? 3) If we build a web app and start to monetize it, how do I ensure that I don't break laws regarding employment? I would like not to be deported :)

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You can own or start a company, but you cannot work for it until you have proper authorization, ie. CPT, OPT, H1b, Green Card, etc. If you are found to be working for any company including your own, you could be out of status and hence deported. Thats my understanding.

As a foreign student you are allowed to have equity in the company as long as you are not employed by that company. You are legally allowed to own a company as a foreigner, just not to work there. So the myth about you not being able to own equity is b/s.

Honestly, just start your startup, go as hard as hell at it, make money, get funded by a renowed VC firm and if they think you are useful, then they will sponsor you as their employee and you will be legally employed in this country.

Another route is to make so much money that you are given a green card. I believe if you generate more than $1 mil. in rev. and employ 12 citizens (any restaurant can do that), then you'll be all set.

You will not break laws regarding employment by monetizing on the app.

Thanks for the information!

"You will not break laws regarding employment by monetizing on the app." I would still be in college if this web app were to be launched. I'm not quite sure what the rules regarding earning money from a website are(you're not technically employed for someone).

Have you looked @ the startup visa? And let me add that I have an enormous amount of empathy for you...

same situation here! moving to the bay area for freshman year from hk

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