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Can I be self-employed or start my own company on OPT?

Yes. SEVP guidance states plainly that 'a student on OPT may start a business and be self-employed.' You must be able to prove you hold the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to your degree program, and you report yourself as a 'self-employed business owner' in SEVIS. Self-employment counts as employment, so it can also keep you under the 90-day unemployment limit.

Watch out

On the STEM OPT extension self-employment is generally not permitted because the rules require a bona fide employer-employee relationship with a separate E-Verify employer.

Source: SEVP Policy Guidance 1004-03, Update to Optional Practical Training (Section 7.2.1), ICE.gov

Informational, not legal advice. Immigration rules change and individual cases differ. Confirm anything that affects your status with your school’s DSO or an immigration attorney before acting.

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