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How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

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Re: How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

#61

Post by imajes »

yardie wrote: post #17

Okay, first things first. Apply for a greencard. I know it's a long process, it's expensive, and it's very invasive but do this first. People assume they don't qualify and don't even bother asking. But the US still has the highest immigration of all countries, only the UK is a distant 2nd. So obviously, people are getting in everyday. Now, contact the US embassy in your country. Get all your paperwork together, set a…

This is patently wrong advice. Do not do this, as it will invalidate all visa-waiver travel for EVER.

You should only apply for a visa when you are reasonably sure you will get it (i.e. have an offer of employment, funds or family to sponsor you).

Re: How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

#62

Post by jbarham »

neilk wrote: post #59
jbarham wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is lousy advice. It's not as if just anyone can "apply for a green card". You need to have a sponsor who is either a relative and US citizen, or you are already employed by a US company on a work visa and they are willing to sponsor your green card application. (I am in the second category.) Even if you have an employer willing to sponsor your green card application, the preliminary paperwork can take over a yea…

Two years for Canadians? Citation? The lawyers that I've talked to have told me the backlog is about six to seven years long and have not mentioned any special treatment for Canadians. I've heard that you can get through faster if you have advanced degrees, but nothing about nationality.

Source is the lawyer handling my paperwork. http://www.trackitt.com/ also has info by nationality.

Re: How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

#63

Post by MediaSquirrel »

bluishgreen wrote: post #56

I am an Indian on H1B Visa, possibly the worst country to be from relative to the US Immigration System. An immigration lawyer told me that I can register a company but I cannot work for it. But later when I find U.S investors who will own equity in my company I can ask them to sponsor the transfer of my H1B Visa to my own company. This doesn't make me thrilled, but hey - it is something. Sitting on my hands is killi…

talk to a different lawyer. Try these dudes:

Leon Hazany 310-500-5052 leon@hazanylaw.com

Robert Goodman 914-935-0015 rig@rigoodmanlaw.com http://www.rigoodmanlaw.com/

Leon is based in LA and was very helpful when i spoke w him about my co-founder. Robert is based in NYC and was particularly knowledgeable about tech and immigration.

also, fyi, ALWAYS TALK TO MULTIPLE LAWYERS, especially when one does not give you a satisfactory response. Immigration is complex and many are bleeding heart save-the-poor types who do not understand the biz/startup side of the equation at all.

Every lawyer will give you 30-60min of their time on the phone for free. Multiply that by the number of lawyers in the world and you can get A LOT of legal advice for free.

Good luck!

Re: How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

#64

Post by alain94040 »

I have been on 6 different visas, over 15 years, I have quite a bit of experience in the matter.

1. 90% of the answers in this thread are bad advice. Some of it really bad. A lot of it just misleading, bogus or exaggerated (on HN, it's bad form to criticize others, but when it comes to life-altering advice such as here, I can't let it stand).

2. It's too complicated to explain in a paragraph. It depends on too many factors.

3. The best lawyer site I have ever seen is http://usvisanews.com. Read this weekly for 6 months, then you'll start having an idea of how it works

A few facts:

a. anybody can incorporate a US corporation. You don't even have to set foot in the US, by the way, to do so.

b. the main issue is living in the US while having some kind of activity for a company. It's usually defined as work, and that's when you must be very careful and have the right status.

Re: How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

#65

Post by angkec »

bluishgreen wrote: post #56

I am an Indian on H1B Visa, possibly the worst country to be from relative to the US Immigration System. An immigration lawyer told me that I can register a company but I cannot work for it. But later when I find U.S investors who will own equity in my company I can ask them to sponsor the transfer of my H1B Visa to my own company. This doesn't make me thrilled, but hey - it is something. Sitting on my hands is killi…

I've also talked to some immigration lawyers, and that seems to be the only route that can get you 6 years in the u.s. The other route maybe graduate from a u.s university and use your 29-month opt period (you do have to extended it) to work for you own u.s registered company. Since opt authorization is done by the school you graduate from, it should be much easier to do than issuing an h1b for yourself.

Just my 2 cents,

Re: How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

#66

Post by neurotech1 »

goatforce5 wrote: post #40
vgurgov wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Forget about E*. Get simple b1/b2 - everyone qualify or L1-bit more complex but possible

Australians should take special interest in the E3 visa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-3_visa I can imagine that incorporating a company in the US and then having that company sponsor you would be a valid use of the E3. Once the company has an LCA to prove a US resident can't do your job (requires some hoop jumping and waiting around), it's super easy to get the E3. For a really young/small company you'd probably ne…

From what I understand, you can't self-sponsor your visa as a single founder.

eg. You would still need a US co-founder. E1 or E2 may be a better visa to use if you don't have a co-founder.

Re: How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

#67

Post by mgh2 »

What about the EB-5 visa? (The Entrepreneur's Visa)

The specifics of the visa are: 1. Each year 10,000 entrepreneurs allowed into the US. 2. The entrepreneur has to attract investment of 1 million. 3. In which after he attains this, he is granted with a 2 year period of 'probation'. 4. In these 2 years, he has to create at least 10 full time American jobs and make a revenue or attract an additional 1 million dollars. 5. If this is achieved, he will be granted a green card. If not, he has to go back.

So my questions are:

A. I know it seems impossible, but how many foreign entrepreneurs actually can achieve this? Are there numbers of how many get this type of visa each year?

B. When is the EB-6 visa coming out? (Same visa but only with 1/2 requirements)

Re: How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

#68

Post by mgh2 »

mgh2 wrote: post #67

What about the EB-5 visa? (The Entrepreneur's Visa) The specifics of the visa are: 1. Each year 10,000 entrepreneurs allowed into the US. 2. The entrepreneur has to attract investment of 1 million. 3. In which after he attains this, he is granted with a 2 year period of 'probation'. 4. In these 2 years, he has to create at least 10 full time American jobs and make a revenue or attract an additional 1 million dollars.…

For more info go to: http://startupvisa.com/

Re: How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

#69

Post by neilk »

jbarham wrote: post #62
neilk wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two years for Canadians? Citation? The lawyers that I've talked to have told me the backlog is about six to seven years long and have not mentioned any special treatment for Canadians. I've heard that you can get through faster if you have advanced degrees, but nothing about nationality.

Source is the lawyer handling my paperwork. http://www.trackitt.com/ also has info by nationality.

I may want to talk to your lawyer. My employer's lawyer and my own lawyer have different information. Nevertheless, if we can trust the stats on that website you are right.

Can you send me his or her info? You can get my contact details from my HN profile page.

Re: How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

#70

Post by lutorm »

jbarham wrote: post #57
yardie wrote: post #17

Okay, first things first. Apply for a greencard. I know it's a long process, it's expensive, and it's very invasive but do this first. People assume they don't qualify and don't even bother asking. But the US still has the highest immigration of all countries, only the UK is a distant 2nd. So obviously, people are getting in everyday. Now, contact the US embassy in your country. Get all your paperwork together, set a…

This is lousy advice. It's not as if just anyone can "apply for a green card". You need to have a sponsor who is either a relative and US citizen, or you are already employed by a US company on a work visa and they are willing to sponsor your green card application. (I am in the second category.) Even if you have an employer willing to sponsor your green card application, the preliminary paperwork can take over a yea…

The EB-1 does not require a sponsors, as far as I understand.
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