Can H1B worker gain income by selling stuff in online website?
I’m considering some side business to gain some small money by selling stuff on Amazon FBA (3rd party seller platform). Is it illegal to do so given that I’m on H1B? (ironically I was a Dev in FBA for two years yet don’t know where to find an authoritative answer)
You are already at amazon selling stuffs.
You can’t. You need to apply for a separate visa to open your own business.
Not true.
BS. Do your research
But if your spouse has EAD he/she can ;)
You can’t
If it strictly says so, would it also prevent me from selling one item that I don’t need anymore on, let’s say, eBay? That’d sounds stupid.
There’s a difference between selling one or few items vs selling to create a profit. You can become ineligible for any visa for life even for one item someone can prove you did that with intention of making a profit. You should understand risk vs reward, and proceed.
I've tried and sought legal counsel on this. Unfortunately I was forbidden from doing this
Good to know. Thanks mate!
I’m sorry to hear your lawyer was wrong and you wasted money on legal fees. Lol. Which law did your lawyer quote? An H1B can own an LLC, Sole Prop or S Corp and that business can run the Sellercentral business.
You can start a C Corp on H1B. But you cannot "work" for it. You can hire someone to run the FBA business. Another option is to partner with a permanent resident. Good luck!
What about partnering with my parents, does that work too? I’m selling their merchandise anyway.
As long as they are in US and have a green card, yes.
Huh?? Shocking to see so much bad advice on Blind. OP please read up and deep dive on your own
The only income allowed after ur w2 is a 1040, i.e income from stocks. For another source - u gota jump up from the h1b status.
Is the stuff illegal?
The stuff is legal for sure, otherwise Amazon wouldn’t allow me anyway. I was just thinking there’s some rules to prevent H1B worker from gaining additional income or something, can’t remember fully.
I have heard amazon somehow does not like employees "side projects". They might forbid you. I would not ask them