Hi everyone, I’m currently on an F-1 visa and will soon start working full-time in NYC under STEM OPT. At the same time, I co-founded an early-stage startup in Costa Rica with some partners.
I’m trying to understand what is and isn’t allowed from an immigration perspective while on STEM OPT.
A few questions:
- Can I legally own/co-found a foreign company while working in the U.S. under STEM OPT?
- If I’m not taking salary or dividends initially, does that help?
- What level of involvement is usually considered okay vs risky/unauthorized employment?
- Is there a recommended way to structure this early on to avoid future immigration issues?
My main goal is to stay fully compliant while working my U.S. job and gradually helping build the startup on the side.
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation or worked with an immigration attorney on this.