Ask HN: How to pay myself on F1 Visa as startup CEO

We recently raised ~$200k on SAFEs. I live in SF. I quit my internship job earlier this year to start this company with my co-founder. Right now my CPT in invalidated from quitting previous job. I'm not eligible for any CPT/OPT for another year, and my personal runway is so low to a point I will need to pay rent (1.2k/mo) and food using company's card. Is there any chance that this may be illegal?

Potential Risks: Immigration: Working without authorization Corporate: Improper compensation documentation Tax: Unclear treatment of founder expenses/benefits Personal: Risk to future visa/immigration status

Looking for advice on structuring founder compensation compliantly while maintaining F1 status. Has anyone navigated this successfully?

2 points | by xdotli 2 hours ago

2 comments

  • gregjor 31 minutes ago
    You should consult with a tax attorney, and maybe an immigration attorney. Working without authorization on an F1 visa seems like asking for a lot of trouble, especially in the current political climate. I don't think it comes down to "structuring founder compensation compliantly," if you can't legally work in the USA with your visa then any compensation, and attempts to make it look "compliant," will just count against you if caught.
  • Aysha132 1 hour ago
    Paying yourself on an F1 visa can be risky, as it generally prohibits unauthorized work, even for your own company. Using the company card for personal expenses might also raise red flags with immigration and tax authorities. One option is to avoid direct compensation and instead cover your essential expenses through legitimate reimbursements for documented business-related activities, but this must be carefully structured with legal advice. Consult an immigration attorney experienced with startup founders on F1 visas to explore compliant options, such as changing your visa status (e.g., O-1 or H1B) or leveraging your co-founder for operational roles until you're eligible for CPT/OPT again.