Running Canadian Online Business while visiting the US.

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BobakNew Member
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Posts: 1
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011

Running Canadian Online Business while visiting the US.

Post Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:29 pm

Hello,
I currently have an incorporated business registered in Canada and would like to know if it would be legal for me to run the business while staying in the US on a visitors visa. I want to stay in California for 6 months but would like to spend that time working on my online home based business. Part of my business will be selling products to US customers, these products will also be manufactured, stored, and shipped from US facilities. All sales and transactions will be done online, nothing in person. All income will be put into my Canadian bank account. I will be returning to Canada at the end of the 183 days as i know that that is the maximum legal time on a visitor visa.
Would this be legal? Would really appreciate any help!
Bobak
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AGNCanuckAbroad VIP
Posts: 818
Joined: 21 Jun 2011

Re: Running Canadian Online Business while visiting the US.

Post Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:20 am

This would be viewed as selling to americans, which would violate visitor -- even business visitor status. Your online activities have to be completely outside of US.
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kroeranNew Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 26 Sep 2010

Re: Running Canadian Online Business while visiting the US.

Post Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:36 am

I asked the US embassy if I could temporarily work in the US under visitor status if my employer was Canadian and I was not doing any transactions in the US, and they said ok as long as income was deposited in Canadian bank.

This is likely a grey area subject to interpretation and context and staying below the radar.

Perhaps for your business, you could segregate the US transactions into a separate functional or even legal entity, and have someone else perform those transactions when you are in technical residential limbo.
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