Building a company while you're still on an F-1

It's 2:00am on a Monday. Your midterm notes have been sitting at the edge of the desk for an hour, and you and your roommate are somewhere past the third cup of coffee working on the thing you actually care about... the company you've been building for 6 months. Then your roommate, who was born here, looks up and asks whether you ever checked with the international student office to see if you're allowed to do any of this. You haven't checked... almost nobody does (and certainly not at that hour). We can usually guess the next part. You go in the next morning, you ask whether you can start a business on an F-1, and someone tells you that you can't work until you graduate and get OPT. That answer is technically true, but it is far from the whole story. Owning a company and working for one sit in different places in immigration law, and your F-1 speaks to the second one.

J-1 Visa Roadmap for Researchers

Your Guide to the Exchange Visitor Program for Research Scholars and Professors

The J-1 exchange visitor visa enables foreign nationals to conduct research, teach, and collaborate with U.S. institutions through authorized exchange programs. This roadmap covers the two J-1 categories most often used by academics and scientists—research scholars and professors—including eligibility requirements, the application process, documentation, costs, and important strategies such as navigating the two-year home-residency requirement and the 12- and 24-month bars on repeat participation.

Abandoning Your
Green Card

A Guide to Voluntary and Formal Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status Using Form I-407

Lawful permanent resident status carries significant obligations, including maintaining the intent to reside permanently in the U.S. and reporting income to the IRS. When you decide that maintaining your Green Card is no longer in your best interest, filing Form I-407 creates a formal record of abandonment with the U.S. government. This guide walks you through the entire process — from filing requirements and documentation to critical tax and travel considerations — so you can make an informed decision and avoid unintended consequences.

R-1 Religious
Worker Visa

Your Complete Roadmap to Working in the U.S. as a Religious Worker

The R-1 visa classification allows clergy members and other religious workers to come to the United States to temporarily work for a bona fide nonprofit religious organization. This guide covers everything you need to know about R-1 eligibility, required documentation, USCIS site visits, admission periods, family considerations, and strategic options including compensation structures and dual intent.

J-1 Visa
Roadmap

Your Guide to the Exchange Visitor Program for Interns and Trainees

The J-1 exchange visitor visa enables foreign nationals to gain hands-on experience in the United States through authorized work or study programs. This roadmap covers the two most frequently used J-1 categories—interns and trainees—including eligibility requirements, the application process, documentation, costs, and important strategies such as navigating the two-year home-residency requirement.

H-1B1 Visa
Roadmap

The "Fast Track H-1B" for Chilean and Singaporean Professionals

The H-1B1 visa offers a streamlined path for nationals of Chile and Singapore to work in specialty occupation positions in the United States. This guide covers eligibility requirements, the application process, documentation needs, and strategic considerations to help you navigate the H-1B1 classification with confidence.