Can I raise funds on Kickstarter for my project in the U.S.?

Raising funds on Kickstarter can be a legitimate way to finance a project, but with the O-1, the key issue is whether the campaign fits within your immigration status. This visa ties the holder to the specific activity that justified its approval, so any parallel initiative needs to be carefully evaluated.

The concern is not the platform itself, but ensuring the fundraising does not constitute work or a source of income outside what your status authorizes, nor undermine the purpose of the visa. Two additional layers beyond the immigration dimension also deserve attention:

• Kickstarter’s own rules and policies, which vary depending on the type of campaign.
• The tax obligations that fundraising may generate in the United States.

Because this involves legal, tax, and immigration considerations at the same time, it is worth consulting the USCIS official guidance and seeking support from an immigration professional (and, if needed, a tax professional) before launching the campaign.

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.