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Are you planning to start a business in the USA? While you are on a tourist visa, you can’t get a business loan, and therefore can’t open a bank account.
So, how can you legally get started without getting in trouble?
For many, the idea of starting a business in the US is more than a dream. It is an ideal that you are working toward.
One of the main factors in determining whether one can become an entrepreneur while on a tourist visa is if there are applicable employer-favoring employment visas available to them.
But if there isn’t, then it may be possible to apply for an O-1 visa and start a business. However, it won’t be easy!
Problems faced to start a business In the US on a tourist Visa
- The first problem is that you cannot work while on a tourist visa. If you are an entrepreneur and have no other source of income then it is not possible to start your own business while on a tourist visa.
- Secondly, you cannot get any loan from banks or financial institutions to start your own business.
- The third problem is that you cannot apply for an employment-based visa (EB1, EB2) or an investor-based visa (EB5).
Besides this, there is a number of things many people still do Maybe legally or illegally to start their own business in a country like the USA.
But these things are only possible if you have relations in the Us like your sister, father, mother, or brother.
Visiting the United States on a tourist visa is a great way to explore and have fun, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to start your own business.
Start-up costs are relatively low, and you can create a legal entity without having to be present in the country.
Once you have decided on your business idea, you need to register it as an LLC or S Corp before you leave for America. This will allow you to set up bank accounts, hire employees and take out loans from local banks.
You will also need to obtain an EIN (employer identification number) from the IRS before leaving Canada or Mexico so that when you start making money, taxes will be taken out automatically by your employer.
Eventually setting up this idea with all legal rules is not possible for an individual with a tourist visa.
Other legal options to earn money in the US on a tourist visa
Freelancing – Freelancing is one of the most popular ways to make money while on a tourist visa. You can find a lot of freelance jobs on Upwork or Fiverr.
You can also register yourself on these websites and start getting freelance jobs as soon as you land in the USA.
However, there are some restrictions on how much you can earn through freelancing. If you want to earn more than $500 per month, you need to apply for a business visa (B1).
Lodging – If you have family or friends in the US, then this is a great option for earning money while on a tourist visa.
You can rent out your apartment and earn anywhere from $2500-3500 per month easily if your place is located in a good area or at least close to where all the jobs are located like Silicon Valley, New York City, etc.
However, this may not be an option for everyone since it takes time to find someone who wants to rent your apartment out and pay monthly rent on time without any hassle.
Conclusion
As mentioned above, it’s quite general that starting up your own business in a country like the US when you are on a tourist visa is just impossible as it needs so many legal formalities to be completed before a new setup.
