Can I create an online course and sell it in the US with an O-1?

The O-1 is a visa tied to a specific job: it authorizes you to work in the area of extraordinary ability that supported the petition and, generally, for the sponsor or project listed. Because of this, creating and selling an online course in the United States only fits if that activity falls within the scope authorized by your visa.

If the course is part of, or a natural extension of, the professional work that justified the O-1, there is more room for it to be compatible. An unrelated commercial activity, disconnected from your qualifications or your sponsor’s project, may be interpreted as unauthorized work and put your status at risk.

Beyond the immigration question, this type of venture also involves its own tax and regulatory rules in the United States. It is worth considering:

• whether the activity falls within your visa scope;
• how the business tax obligations will be handled;
• whether it makes sense to structure things differently or seek a different status.

Since every case has its own details, the safest approach is to confirm the applicable rules through official sources and review your plan with an immigration attorney before you start selling.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.