EmersonsBrooke

A friend of mine on a student visa was advised by his attorney that selling was OK as it constituted a business not employment.

Thank you motu! That's what I meant. Because I'm not taking a job that could otherwise be filled by a U.S. citizen, so I shouldn't be violating my status.. I don't see what advantage they gain by me being extra super poor.

you can confer with an immigration attorney to confirm it

Now there's a novel idea! Thanks. I better do that.

If you are self-employed, you do not need to complete a Form I-9 on yourself unless you are also an employee of a business entity, such as a corporation or partnership ... Don't become a business entity until you have your EAD and AOS, but you can be self-employed and not complete a Form I-9.

That's helpful as well. Thanks Artegal!

Appreciate the replies, everybody. When I find out more for sure, I'll post the info here in case anyone else wants to know.

I'm still awaiting EAD approval, and AOS approval. I'm a K1-er. But I'm itching to get my business going. Until now I'd not been ready to sell things, so I just assumed I wouldn't be able to till I had my EAD, and hoped that would come when I was ready. Now I'm ready. The website is done, the plans are laid out. All my site lacks is the products to sell. I'd also like to earn extra income as an affiliate for other companies.

Does anyone know if this is allowed without a US work permit, since it's all online, not limited to within the US? Can I even use Google Adsense on my website? Can I sell stuff on ebay? It's not 'employment', so... ?

Thanks!

Brooke

I know what you're saying. I'm ready to accept doing whatever I have to do, I just want to be sure just what that is before I accept the first thing I'm *told* I have to do by the ones who want the money. Usually there are other options if you're insistent enough, and it helps to know going in what is possible and what isn't, so I can pick my battles accordingly.

I do actually owe the gov't directly as well as Royal bank. After August of.. I forget what year.. it all switched over from RBC to government-issued loans. I have three lenders to pay, therefore (that's why I'm also wondering about consolidation) - BC govt, Federal govt, and Royal bank. Weee!

I do really wish I'd dealt with this before I left Canada. Oh, hindsight...

I appreciate your input, everyone. Please keep me in mind if you come across or think of any other info that might apply to my situation. I'm very overwhelmed as to how to go about all this.

Thanks!

Brooke

...just fyi, the credit rating in Canada doesn't affect your US one. Now, what you plan to do with that, is your choice!

That was another question I meant to ask! Hmm.. if that's true, that helps. My new concern though, especially reading the other replies, is that my hubby might somehow be pulled into it. Could creditors come after HIM? could it effect HIS credit rating? And/or could my US credit rating be effected by creditors coming after me here? It's a lot closer than Africa... I'm scared...

Hi, fellow visa journeyers

I'm from Canada and recently married my American boy, and am now living in the US (AOS still pending).

I have quite a bit of student loan debt (Canadian and BC loans) which I've not started paying yet because I've been on interest relief. But they tell me I've used up my interest relief as of June 1 (maybe not, for my BC provincial loan), which means it's time to start making payments. Only problem is, I can't work in the US yet, so I can't afford it! My husband is supporting us both as it is, so him paying my loan payments on top of that would be a bit much. I could apply for extended interest relief or loan reduction -- IF I still resided in Canada. But I don't, and I've already informed all my lenders of my new location (that was probably stupid, but I didn't want to miss any mail, and don't really trust my flaky ex-roommate with forwarding it).

I'm wondering if anyone here has had this experience and knows the best thing to do in this situation. Are there any alternatives the lenders don't tell you about? Loopholes? If I were to default on my loans, would that screw my credit rating forever? I really don't want to give the government any more (politicians' vacation) money than I have to. I reeeally don't.

Consolidation is something I also know nothing about, but have heard that a lot of people do. Any pointers on that would be helpful as well. The more options I have to play around with, the better.

Thanks a bunch, in advance!

Brooke