H1 - Foreign CEO question

kiloday

Registered Users (C)
I would like to know what type of visa or permission is reqd to open a branch of a foreign company in the USA. My father owns a fashion label in India, but i would like to expand it to America...much like Versace and Armani have done (i assume those big companies had some US investors buy a stake and faciliate the process). But how does a small company do that, without invoking any protectionism issues. To compound the issue, i am on OPT and have applied for an H1. I know that legally i cannot accept gainfull employment from anyone else but my employer....i can just be a passive investor.
Therefore, can I:
(a): be on a H1 and help my father with the set up here?
(b): get a separate visa and stay on that?
(C): work out of India and hire some people here?
Basically, is there any way i can legally run american operations here....i do not care what type of visa is reqd...is it possible?

Any Thoughts?

Many Thanks
 
kiloday said:
I would like to know what type of visa or permission is reqd to open a branch of a foreign company in the USA. My father owns a fashion label in India, but i would like to expand it to America...much like Versace and Armani have done (i assume those big companies had some US investors buy a stake and faciliate the process). But how does a small company do that, without invoking any protectionism issues. To compound the issue, i am on OPT and have applied for an H1. I know that legally i cannot accept gainfull employment from anyone else but my employer....i can just be a passive investor.
Therefore, can I:
(a): be on a H1 and help my father with the set up here?
(b): get a separate visa and stay on that?
(C): work out of India and hire some people here?
Basically, is there any way i can legally run american operations here....i do not care what type of visa is reqd...is it possible?

Any Thoughts?

Many Thanks
It all depends- how much you have , to invest in US for your business. But defineitely possible.
 
Further info

Thanks for the repsonse. I am planning a gradual entry into the market....with only a few products...ie...denim...cotton casuals...so I estimate around few thousand dollars of merchandise a month...and sell locally to NY retailers only. Then if orders pick up...scale accordingly. So...i would venture to say not much investment to start off with. just have the product shipped here and i will market it to retailers / buyers
Any thoughts?
 
kiloday said:
Thanks for the repsonse. I am planning a gradual entry into the market....with only a few products...ie...denim...cotton casuals...so I estimate around few thousand dollars of merchandise a month...and sell locally to NY retailers only. Then if orders pick up...scale accordingly. So...i would venture to say not much investment to start off with. just have the product shipped here and i will market it to retailers / buyers
Any thoughts?

You should have money to pay office rent Min $500/PM and your salary or if you employ any body. Atleast $25K in the bank to prove you are genuine business man to businees in US.

I have done this thing for 2 clents, they are successfull. They are from Gujarat, hand tools mfg
 
No conflict with having a H1 and doing this as well? Also, what if the office is based out of my apt to begin with?
 
kiloday said:
No conflict with having a H1 and doing this as well? Also, what if the office is based out of my apt to begin with?

Do not confuse with H1. If you are already H1 and living in US, there is other way to do it.
 
Top