At a Glance
- Stock trading in the U.S. is a popular investment avenue, requiring a Social Security Number for registration with a stockbroker.
- H-1B visa holders can engage in stock trading but must maintain employment to retain their visa status.
- Earnings from stocks, including capital gains, are subject to taxation at different flat rates.
- Alternative investment options for visa holders include real estate and participation in 401k plans with employer matching, with early 401k contributions being a prudent strategy for retirement savings.
H1B investing is a little talked about topic, but one with a lot of upside for immigrants in the U.S. on H1B visas. While most people choose to simply save their earnings, others view investing as a better option to turn that money into more profit.
In this guide, we will outline everything you need to know about investing while on a visa and bring up some of the best options for investments in the US.
In This Article
How to Invest in Stocks in the U.S.?
Investing in stocks is one of the most popular forms of investment in the United States. The stock market is ever-changing, and you may want to jump into stock trading as one form of your investment. Here, we will discuss how you can begin stock trading, and how your earnings will be taxed.
What is Stock Trading?
Stock trading is the practice of buying and selling stocks or small ownerships in a company’s ownership. People participate in stock trading for two main purposes, to make money and to gain influence within a company.
Investing in Stocks while on an H-1B visa in the U.S.
You may be wondering if you can participate in stock trading while on a visa. The answer is yes, it is legal to do stock trading and it is also a very simple process to begin doing so.
The only thing you need to keep in mind is that you must continue working for your employer who has sponsored your visa in order to maintain your visa. If you do earn a lot of money through stock trading, that does not mean you can simply leave your current job, as doing so would take away your visa status.
Stock Trading Process for H-1B visa holders
In order to begin stock trading, you will need to have a Social Security Number in order to register with stockbrokers such as Scottrade, Ameritrade, or TradeKing. Registering with a stockbroker will create your personal account to buy and sell stocks with.
Day Trading vs Delivery Based Trading for H-1B
There are two main types of stock trading: day trading and delivery based trading. Most visa holders will participate in delivery based trades since day trading often requires it to be a full-time job.
Since H1B visa holders have a full-time job, this makes day trading an unattainable option for most visa holders who don’t want to give up their visa status.
Tax Liability on Stock Trading for H-1B Visa Holders
Just like with your regular work earnings, you will need to pay taxes on your stock earnings as well. According to the IRS, stock earnings do qualify as a source of income, and therefore these earnings are taxed.
What Taxes do I Pay When Investing in Stock on an H1B visa?
There are various taxes you may have to pay on your taxable earnings. The first type is a capital gains tax which is a percentage taxed on your profits from selling stocks that were held for at least a full year. Other taxes you may face are flat tax rates such as Medicare tax or net investment income taxes if your investment income is over a $200,000 threshold.
Many people choose to use tax consultants to file their taxes on stocks as it can get very complicated. Making any mistake can jeopardize your visa status so it’s important to do thorough research on filing taxes for your stock trading earnings.
Two Great Non-Stock Investment Options for Visa Holders
Taxes are not the only option for investing while on a visa. Some other common forms of investment are investing where you want to live, and 401k investing. Here, we will discuss the two.
Invest Where You Want to Live
Buying a home can be a great investment. Investing in real estate is a popular form of investment that you may want to consider as a visa holder.
Often times, when buying a home as a visa holder, you will end up selling that home later for more money than you purchased it for. As you can see, this is a great investment if that profit is considerably large. Many people with the funds will choose to purchase second homes for the sole purpose of investing in the home as a method of earning money.
Take Advantage of 401k and 401k Matching
401ks are one of the easiest methods of investing and are one of the most important strategies for retirement planning. Most employers will match your 401k contributions which can add up to a significant amount of money once you retire.
One of the best things you can do is start contributing to your 401k as early as possible in order to get the most out of your employer’s matching program. Failing to contribute to your 401k plan is basically turning down free money that your company is providing for your retirement. Therefore, as an employee, you should make sure you are investing in your future through your 401k!
Read More
- Is Now a Good Time to Buy Stocks?
- The Complete Guide to NRI Investment in India
- Complete Guide to Bearer Bonds
- How to Cash Out a 401(k)
- How Do Savings Bonds Work?
- What Happens to a 401k When You Quit?
Conclusion
If you want to start building on your income to bring in more profits, investing is the path for you. However, deciding on which form of investment you want to participate in is a big decision, and we hope with this article, we’ve provided information to help make your decision.
Here at Stilt, we strive to help others build their financial future, and so wish you the best of luck with your investments!
Frank Gogol
I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.
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