EAD / Business

Joyman

New Member
I get lay off after 60 days of filing I-485. I and my wife have received the EAD’s. We want to do our own business. Can my wife open a business and I become an employee to her under my same title as applied to INS in order to maintain my continuity of my green card? Please advice.
 
Generally it is not a good idea.
If you look at it from a third person perspective, it gives the impression that the job/title was created specifically to support your AOS process.

Even if USCIS does not question the intent of that job/title's creation, I think it would be difficult to convince CIS that a new business set up by your spouse has the ability to pay your wages.

But hey... I have read about cases on this forum where people worked for themselves after getting their EAD and they were fine thru the process.
They basically became independent contractors doing the same thing they did before; and they could earn enough money to be equal to or more than what was listed on the wage determination used in the labor certificate.
 
If your wife is the primary there shouldn't be any problems; otherwise you may want to consult your attorney, as the law is not very clear and different people have different opinions on using EAD to start a business. The first priority is to keep your AOS going if you are the primary, since it isn't 180 days yet
 
Hi,

Joyman.....if you don't mind, I add additional question.....

Assume Joyman is primary and can his wife start the business without any problem and start recruiting others ( ...other than joyman ! ).....is the law clear in this scenario ?

With regards,
 
An EAD holder can start a business, regardless of who is the primary. But a primary applicant must consider the complications involving H1 status and AOS, in case something goes wrong. So in a sense, it may be even better for the beneficiary with EAD to start the business.

Recruiting others is a different issue, maybe more of an IRS issue than USCIS, especially if one intends to hire H1B workers. If this is the case, consulting a CPA plus an attorney is highly recommended.
 
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