Hi there,

I am an international student in USA, currently an undergraduate majoring in Computer Science... I have a few questions here and it would be great if you can help me :)

1. Is it possible for me to run a hosting business? I got my SSN.. but only F1 visa for student (I worked in college dining hall before...)

2. Can I get hired by a hosting company? If so, can I get the visa to stay here even after graduate?

Please give me some guide, thanks :cool:

Hi,
regarding question#1:
it's a kinda grey area. Let's say that you can incorporate your company in the USA, get a bank account for this company, an EIN, everything that you need, and then run your company from overseas. That's perfectly legal.
Now, with your visa, you're not allowed to work in the USA.
So, it seems that you can run your american company as long as you stay far far away. Amusing, ain't it?
Now, this is how I understand it; if anyone here has a better answer, I'm a bit curious :)

Question #2:
a huge company may be willing to go through all the hassle of petitioning on your behalf. Now, I believe they'll have to prove that no American can do that job and they need you, a foreigner. It's quite a lengthy process.

Regards,

1. Is it possible for me to run a hosting business? I got my SSN.. but only F1 visa for student (I worked in college dining hall before...)

No, cut and clear if you are on F1. You are only allowed to work on campus jobs.

2. Can I get hired by a hosting company? If so, can I get the visa to stay here even after graduate?
No, not until you graduate it is illegal for any employer to hire you unless they file your papers for an H-1 visa, or unless you are approved for an internship or a summer job or something like that from your school.

You can only get a visa to stay, if you can be hired. You may be hired full-time even before you graduate but that means the company has to file for a work visa for you and you have to quit school.

thanks guys.. now I have clearer ideas...

something more regarding question 1.... for hosting business, it is something like "work at home", which I should be able to do it in whatever place. Is F1 visa limit me from doing "home business"? (not incorporate company... just sole proprietary or something like that...)

Just want to use Internet to do something I like while getting some money and experiences.....

Start the business in your home country. Whatever work you do in the US in your own home for your business abroad, you do not need a visa.