評論: 關於非移民在美國創業，簡而言之是可以創業但是不能領自己的薪水．(以下為簡體中文)
摘要：1. 非移民不可以在没有USCIS的工作许可和I-9下领取薪水工作。如果你只是把你的事业作为投资管理，那是不需要任何特别允许的。可开设和管理自己的公司，以及利润的分配。但是不能以薪水方式工作。
2. 如果你常常亲自到商店里帮助你的员工（事实上大多数的小型企业主都这样做），那么移民局官则将此视为犯规行为。
原文網址: http://www.mitbbs.com/ym_article/FanLaw/31066187.html
华家伟律师专栏：非移民的创业（Starting a Business as a Non-Immigrant
作者：范毅禹律师 发文时间: 2010年08月09日 18:43:30
I recently met with an old client who wanted to set up a new business, an LLC. She had no particular business plan, but wanted to have a company registered for when the opportunity came. My client and her husband don’t have their green cards, but they have raised a family here in the United States. Some of their questions reminded me of the complications that might arise for immigrants wanting to start a new business here in the United States.
最近，我的一个老客户想自己成立一个LLC的有限责任公司。她目前并没有特定的商业计划，只是想先注册好一个公司等待未来的商业时机。这位老客户和她的丈夫并没有绿卡，但他们与家人都住在美国。就他们的案例，我想谈谈美国移民在创业过程中可能遇到的一些问题。
1. What permissions do I need from USCIS to start my own business?
The simple answer is: None. As you know, USCIS is very concerned about immigrants working without proper authorization. However, USCIS does not regulate how immigrants invest or purchase things in the United States.
Immigrants are free to buy cars, buy houses, and invest in the stock market; starting a business is no different. Starting your own business is an investment, not employment. Therefore, you will not require USCIS permission to start a business.
1. 如果我想开创自己的事业，是否需要USCIS什么样的特许？
答案很简单：没有。事实上，USCIS是非常注意移民非法工作的问题，但是USCIS并没有特别限制移民在美国境内的投资或购买。移民可在美国境内自由购买车子，房屋或投资股市，开创事业也是如此。开创事业是一种投资而并非雇佣的性质，因此这并不需要USCIS的特别允许。
2. Can I work for my business if I don’t have a work authorization?
This is complicated. Since entrepreneurship and employment are closely related, immigrants who start their own businesses need to be very careful to limit their activities to the management of and investment in the business, and not “work for” the business like a typical employee who would need USCIS permission. Thus, though you can start, register and own your own business, you cannot work for the company and earn a salary without a work authorization and an I-9 for your position. However, if you simply manage your business like an investment, there is no need for any work authorization.
2．如果我没有工作许可，是否可以为自己的公司工作？
这个问题比较复杂。因为创业和就业是紧密相连的，你应小心限制在投资和业务管理上的活动。你不能像普通雇员一样在公司工作，因为普通雇员是需要USCIS的允许才能合法工作的。简单来说，你可以自己注册公司开创事业，但你不可以在没有USCIS的工作许可和I-9下领取薪水工作。如果你只是把你的事业作为投资管理，那是不需要任何特别允许的。
3. Can I start a business if I am working on an H1-B or have an EAD with another employer?
Remember that H1-B and EAD work authorizations are employer-specific. New full-time jobs require new authorizations. However, this does not prevent you from starting and managing your own company. As you build your side business, just be careful not to ignore your work hour obligations to your current employer.
3．如果我是另外一个公司的H-1B或EAD雇员，还可以自己开设公司吗？
H1-B和EAD都是基于不同雇主的。新的全职工作需要新的工作许可。但是以上不阻碍你开设和管理自己的公司，只是对于你原来的H-1B公司，你必须尽到应有的雇员责任。
4. Can I start a company if I am a student, or the spouse of a student?
F-1 students cannot work outside the Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training systems. Spouses of F-1 students also need a separate work authorization to work. However, nothing prevents F-1 students or their spouses from starting and managing their own companies and earning money through profit distributions. Again, you just need to be careful not to draw a salary from your work.
4．如果我是学生或学生的配偶，是否还可以开设公司？
F-1不可以在CPT或OPT系统以外工作，而F-1的配偶则需要独立的工作许可。但这也不阻碍F-1或其配偶开设和管理自己的公司，以及利润的分配。同样，F-1和其配偶不能以薪水方式工作。
5. If I invest in something, can I occasionally help my employees with their work?
This is a tricky question. Investing in a small business, like a McDonald’
s franchise, and earning profits from it does not require a work authorization. However, if you go to the shop location and help out your employees from time to time, as most small business owners do, then a USCIS officer might cry foul. However, once again, so long as you are not paid for your work, you are not in violation of your status.
This situation shows how registering a company for your business, like a C-corporation or an LLC, rather than operating as a sole proprietor, is a good idea. Registering a company will provide documentation showing that you are the owner and manager of the company, and not an employee. Such documentation can refute accusations that you are ‘working’ for your company. Moreover, business structures can provide important limited liability and other advantages to entrepreneurs.
5．在我投资的商业当中，是否可偶尔帮助我雇员的工作？
这是一个棘手的问题。在小型企业的投资当中，例如像麦当劳的特许经营，从中赚取利润并不需要特别的工作许可。然而，如果你常常亲自到商店里帮助你的员工（事实上大多数的小型企业主都这样做），那么移民局官则将此视为犯规行为。在这里重申，只要你不因为你的工作领取薪水，则不算做犯规。
这种情况显示了注册C-corporation 或LLC相比起Sole Proprietor的好处。注册公司能提供证明文件以证明你是公司的所有人或管理者，而非雇员。这些证明文件有助于反驳你是为公司“工作”的。并且，这种企业结构还拥有公司所有人的有限责任权和其它优势。
6. Can I register a company if I don’t have a green card?
There is no restriction on who can register a company in the United States. It doesn’t matter where you are from, or where you claim citizenship, or whether or not you have a green card. However, you will need a Registered Agent in the jurisdiction where you register the business. This is someone with a regular address in the jurisdiction who can accept process on behalf of your company. If you don’t live in the jurisdiction and can’t serve as your own registered agent, then there are many companies you can hire who will serve as a registered agent for you (including Fan, Fitzpatrick & Thompson in California and Maryland).
6．如果我没有绿卡，是否还可以注册公司？
在美国并没有对公司注册者有特别限制，无论你是从哪里来的，国籍是什么，或者有没有绿卡。但是你必需在公司注册的管辖区域由注册代表(Registered Agent), 这个注册代表人或公司需在在管辖区内拥有一个地址才能在程序上有代表的作用。如果你不住在管辖区域内而不能成为自己的注册代表，则可雇用其它公司作为公司的注册代表（包括我们在California以及 Maryland的办公室）。
7. Can I register a company in one state even though my driver’s license is from another?
Again, there is no restriction on who can register a company in any particular location. For example, a resident of California is free to register a company in New York. However, you must be careful about where your company is doing business. You will likely need to register your business as a ‘foreign’ business in any jurisdiction outside your local jurisdiction where business occurs. Thus, it is always best to register your company where it does the most business, no matter where your residence or drivers license is from.
7．如果我的驾照是在其它州的，还可以在本州内注册公司吗？
同样，这里对于任何人在任何地方注册公司并没有特定的限制。例如，加州居民可以自由地在纽约注册公司。但是，你必须小心你的公司是在哪里营业。如果公司是在其注册的管辖区以外地方营业的话，那么你的公司则可能需要注册为“foreign”公司。因此，无论你的居住地和驾照是属于哪里，最好是把公司注册在业务经营最多的地方。
8. I’m planning to start an online business - where should I register?
A lot of modern start-up businesses are e-businesses that ‘do business’ almost exclusively on the Internet or through smart phones. Since the Internet is not located in any specific place, it can be difficult to judge where these companies are doing business. The safe route is for e-entrepreneurs simply to register their business in their local jurisdiction.
If the e-business ever grows to require traditional ‘brick and mortar’ infrastructure, at that time you can consider whether or not business is taking place in other jurisdictions.
8．我计划开设网上经营的业务，那么我应该在哪里注册？
许多刚刚启动的公司都是以电子商务的形式出现的，其本上只执行互联网或职能电子上的业务范围。 由于互联网是没有任何具体地理位置，所以很难判断这些公司实质上是在哪里营业的。安全考虑，公司创业人应先把公司注册在其管辖区域内。如果以后其电子商务发展到需要传统的实体经营，则再考虑是否需要把公司注册在其它地方。
9. Can starting my own business help me get my green card faster?
The EB-5 visa program enables entrepreneurs who create jobs in America to get green cards for themselves and their family. The adjudications are much faster than other employment-based avenues. If your small business becomes successful and results in retained earnings of $1,000,000 (or $500,000 in some cases), and you have created 10 full-time jobs for Americans, you can use your business as a new basis for your I-485 and get your provisional green card faster. If this option sounds reasonable to you, please contact Fan, Fitzpatrick & Thompson and ask about investor visas.
9．开设自己的事业是否能更快获取绿卡？
EB-5投资移民计划能让在美创造就业机会的投资人及其家人获取绿卡。这种方式比其Employment-Based的绿卡渠道更为快捷。如果你的成功小型企业拥有1百万美元的保存收益（或某些情况下50万），并且你已经为美国人创造10个的全职就业机会，那么你可以此申请I-485而更快获得临时绿卡。如果你有意选择以上绿卡申请方式以及了解更多详情，请与我们联系。华家伟律师 dwallace@fan-law.com
本文由范毅禹律师事务所提供
本律师事务所精办各类劳工应聘及专业移民申请 (包括H-1，L-1，EB-1，EB-2，NIW，
劳工卡，绿卡等申请)。所有申请由多位美籍律师及拥有15年经验的范毅禹律师亲自处
理，我所并特设中英移民网站。内有最新移民新闻资讯及由律师主持的移民问答集，欢
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