Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

techcrunch.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 121 posts

Re: Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

#111

Post by sireat »

patrickk wrote: post #110
hippich wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If only getting tourist visa was so easy for everyone =))

There's 36 countries on the Visa Waiver Program, see if you qualify: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html#... " The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor [B] visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The program was established to eliminate unnecessary barriers to…

While nice, it is not without its caveats, if CBP officer does not like you, you are gone.

"Travelers should be aware that by requesting admission under the Visa Waiver Program, they are generally waiving their right to review or appeal a CBP officer’s decision as to their application for admission at the port of entry. Likewise, if the traveler is later found to have violated the conditions of admission under the Visa Waiver Program, they do not have the right to contest a removal order (See the CBP website for additional details.) "

Re: Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

#112

Post by philwelch »

tghnjtghn wrote: post #97
philwelch wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hang on. No one is talking about automatic citizenship --and that is what a passport signifies. If the owner of your company had a permanent US residency visa, would the US be any the worse off?

No not in this case - but the visa is intended to start growth business, not just for people to hire a maid, pool boy and gardener and get a resident visa.

If you can generate $100k revenue from your maid/pool boy/gardener business, why not?

Re: Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

#113

Post by muzz »

tghnjtghn wrote: post #98
muzz wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What notable startups have come out of this community in Vancouver?

What notable startups have come out of silicon valley in the last 10years? It's been a long time since HP, Apple, Sun appeared - a few people with a high traffic no income social web site doesn't make an industry however many $M/Bn it's notionally valued.

You made a claim that there were many startup people there, and I simply asked what notable startups have arised from that. It was a simple question, and the answer would have revealed concrete examples of which startups this country is missing out on because of a lack of a Startup Visa, and in this case, those would have been literally right across our borders! Your lack of examples would seem to indicate that the US wouldn't gain much from this purported community of startup types crossing the border.

Re: Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

#114

Post by uikjhgyujmn »

stevefarnworth wrote: post #79
noelsequeira wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The answer depends largely on intent (is the bill meant to be exclusively for startups or are the terms more inclusive) and consequently, on how you define a 'startup'. Let's assume a hypothetical company in operation for 15 years outside the US with > 100000$ in revenue from the US market. 3 American hires now effectively represent an immediate ticket to a Visa for the founders. If I might hazard a guess, there'll b…

But surely there'd be less of an incentive to move to the US if you're already successful? Surely the main reason to go to the States is to start and grow, not live there for already established business-people. I don't doubt that the US is a nice place to live, but is it really a dream to move there other than for monetary gain?

There are a few countries where those who are connected with the current government are doing rather well - certainly well enough to have $100K. Some of those governments might soon be suffering from an outbreak of democracy.

If you were living in one of those countries it might be worth putting $100K into a business (especially if it was just recycling money that you could get back) in order to have a free escape to America card.

I think this visa is an excellent idea - much better than the current H1B crap. But it's going to get stopped if it ends up being a way for Egyptian dentists and Dubai real estate agents to escape the mob.

Re: Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

#115

Post by elai »

tghnjtghn wrote: post #71
huherto wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMHO, it is in the best interest of the US to let rich people in. They have a big potential to invest or consume.

Depends on what you mean by 'rich' - $1M, $10M, $1Bn ? There have been classes of investment visa for people bringing $1M into the country. But then people simply used it to buy a house = $1M in some areas. So then there were requirements that it had to be invested in a business, so people formed a company, bought a house and leased it to themselves. So the politicians upped the $$ requirement, but that leads to diff…

People with $100mm could buy their visa by making a unprofitable business and come in on the immigrant investor visa anyway. Or get a US friend to create a company where they have veto powers and come over on an L-1A and get their green card in 2-3 years due to no labor certification or waiting list. And their spouse can work also on a L-2 visa when they apply with him. Someone who has made a $100million could also get an O visa. Your a pretty remarkable person if you've made $100 million.

Also if you have $100 million and don't setup your income to be indirect through companies and such, the USA taxes all international income, even if you've never lived or set foot in the US for years, and has an expat tax if you give up your green card or citizenship explicitly made for rich people. The usa is the only country in the world to do this and makes it unattractive to actually get a citizenship from them if your wealthy. You can still do business and profit from the country quite well without being a citizen and at that level you could do business in the country part time coming in on B-2 visas. The consulate would have no problem giving you a 10 year multiple entry B-2 visa since you have a very very very low illegal immigration risk.

Re: Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

#116

Post by hippich »

patrickk wrote: post #110
hippich wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If only getting tourist visa was so easy for everyone =))

There's 36 countries on the Visa Waiver Program, see if you qualify: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html#... " The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor [B] visa purposes only) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. The program was established to eliminate unnecessary barriers to…

I am already in USA and I went through all possible options to get there. And no - I am not in Visa Waiver Program list. It's very hard for people from some countries to get into USA. (I am not talking about India, muslim countries etc.)

Re: Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

#117

Post by HistoryInAction »

muzz wrote: post #93
iamelgringo wrote: post #17

I've been _soooo_ frustrated by this, running http://www.hackersandfounders.com . I can't tell you how many amazing entrepreneurs I've seen come into the area, and then have to leave because of visa issues. So, even though I'm way oversubscribed right, now, I'm burning a bit of bandwidth on the startup visa movement. Votizen (I have no attachment other than knowing the founders) is coming up with a crazy cool platfor…

Looks like a only 2 stories of entrepreneurs dealing with visa issues on that tumblr

I just launched it a few days ago, gimme some time :) also pass along stories please!

Re: Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

#118

Post by muzz »

HistoryInAction wrote: post #117
muzz wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looks like a only 2 stories of entrepreneurs dealing with visa issues on that tumblr

I just launched it a few days ago, gimme some time :) also pass along stories please!

If entrepreneurs shunned from the US have started great companies elsewhere, there should be plenty of examples from the past.

Re: Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

#119

Post by HistoryInAction »

muzz wrote: post #118
HistoryInAction wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just launched it a few days ago, gimme some time :) also pass along stories please!

If entrepreneurs shunned from the US have started great companies elsewhere, there should be plenty of examples from the past.

Definitely in the works. Got a contact at Andreesen Horowitz who is picking the brains of some Barcelona startups along those lines. Nothing definite yet in that category there of "jobs lost to US through visa problems the Startup Visa would solve"

Re: Finally, a Startup Visa That Works

#120

Post by speleding »

ojbyrne wrote: post #83
speleding wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that it sounds too easy. My startup easily has $100K in accumulated sales from the US, so I would all of a sudden qualify for a visa. That's perplexing if you know how much trouble they made me go through to attend a US university (and send me packing right afterwards). Then again, even with some abuse of the rules I think this would probably be a good deal for the US economy. Anyone who is able to "fake" $10…

I'm going to guess that means $100k in annual sales. Its not entirely clear on that point, but the mention of the same number required annually after being approved seems to suggest that. Your use of the work "accumulated" suggests you're talking about a period > 1 year.

Actually, I think you are right that they probably mean $100K a year, although the article doesn't say that. (My startup does >$100K annually too now, but I guess that would limit the potential candidates quite a bit)
Post reply on HN