Not every journey goes as planned, and mine certainly hasn’t. I arrived in New Mexico on a tourist visa from Jordan just to visit family, but along the way I discovered a promising business opportunity that feels worth exploring. The idea of testing the market excites me, yet I fear crossing immigration lines. Can I legally set up or experiment with a business while still holding a visitor visa, or does that risk a violation?

Question

Zubair Qureshi · Accepted Answer

With a tourist visa, you cannot legally run or actively manage a business. Even small “test runs” may be considered unauthorized work.

Sibongile Mthembu · Answer

Visitor visas only allow limited activities like attending meetings, networking, or market research. Any hands-on business operation could put your status in danger.

Kazuo Tanaka · Answer

If you truly want to pursue business here, you’ll need a visa category that permits it, such as an E-2 treaty investor visa or another employment-based option.

Acting prematurely could lead to denial of future visas or even removal proceedings. It’s okay to study the market and draft plans while on a tourist visa. But any actual business launch should wait until you change or adjust status lawfully.

Ghada Haddad

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