H1B employee - Can I start my own company?

[cutelovely]

Hi,

I am working in USA as consultant on H1b at client site and my employer is sponsoring my visa and running my payroll.

Is it possible to start my own company and consider as self employed? May I ask for 1099 from my employer instead of W2?

Appreciate your help.

Thanks.

[JoeF]

Anybody can start a company.

But you can not work for it, not even for free, without the appropriate work authorization.

That means that on H1, you can essentially only be a passive investor, putting money into a business, and otherwise stay out of it.

See http://www.murthy.com/news/n_hombus.html

[cutelovely]

Thanks Joef.