F-1 visa and e-commerce

[chinik]

Hi, guys!

My questions is am I eligible to be engaged in e-commerce (affiliate programs, owning web site, selling any products and the like making profit, and having merchant account) being on F-1 student visa in US.

Thank you.

[CoBcemOnyx]

Hi, guys!

My questions is am I eligible to be engaged in e-commerce (affiliate programs, owning web site, selling any products and the like making profit, and having merchant account) being on F-1 student visa in US.

Thank you.

Hi,

Well, if you registered your business outside the US, then naturally the answer is yes.  If you are just talking of a merchant account on eBay, I do not think it is classified as business.  Making profit means you just need to pay extra taxes.  Summarizing my thoughts, I do not believe you will be able to 'engage' in any legal business activity involving your employment or self-employment while in F-1 visa status.

Good luck.

[DrX]

If you are just talking of a merchant account on eBay, I do not think it is classified as business.

Это дело темное. IRS считает, что

You are self employed if you carry on a trade or business for profit.

И потихоньку подбирается к online-sellers:

If you regularly sell items on online auction sites, you may find yourself on the Internal Revenue Service’s radar.

http://www.personal-business-protection.org/OnlineSellers.html

[CoBcemOnyx]

Да, но IRS и DHS - это не одно и тоже.

[DrX]

Разумеется. Я просто хочу сказать, что заниматься с размахом е-коммерцией и при этом сохранять хорошие отношения с обоими ведомствами может оказаться непросто. Хотя, с другой стороны, люди на H1B налоги возвращали по tax treaty, и ничего..