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[Ask HN] Applying to Y Combinator from outside the US - Some Questions

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Re: [Ask HN] Applying to Y Combinator from outside the US - Some Questions

#11

Post by nchuhoai »

MojoJolo wrote: post #6
nchuhoai wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would be a question I have as well. AFAIK know, there it no Visa suited for YC unless you can do ESTA.

Someone told me that you can't register a business or incorporate a company as a tourist. So maybe, tourist visa will not work for YC? Because AFAIK you need to be incorporated in YC, right? Also, can you explain ESTA to me?

coorperation doesn't matter what status you have. Your visa is only relevant whether you are allowed to work in the US or not. No non-immigrant visa allows you to work, the B-visa technically only allows you to have meetings etc.

ESTA is a an agreement with various countries for its citizens to enter the states for 3 months without a visa. Many people I know use ESTA to work in a grey-zone

Re: [Ask HN] Applying to Y Combinator from outside the US - Some Questions

#12

Post by taurussai »

You can do it -- a few companies in my batch (W12) have done it and we have a large YC international community to help answer all your visa questions. Answering your first 2 questions (briefly):

1. Don't know -- my thoughts would be it depends on customers (if it is worldwide/local to India, team location etc.)

2. Yes, it is possible through H1b/O1 visa (a number of founders have done/doing it)

* Would recommend focusing on the application and interview -- the YC team,international YC founders community and recommended immigration law firms will help you once you are in...

Re: [Ask HN] Applying to Y Combinator from outside the US - Some Questions

#14

Post by rehack »

Not directly related to your question. But hope this can inspire you :-)

"After being rejected by Drona[1] on account of his not being of Kshatriya lineage, Eklavya[2] embarks upon a program of self-study in the presence of a clay image of Drona. He achieves a level of skill superior to that of Arjuna, Drona's favorite and most accomplished pupil"

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drona

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekalavya

PS: If the anology is not self evident. PG/YCombinator is Drona in this case, and you are Eklavya

Edit: HN--> Ycombinator

Re: [Ask HN] Applying to Y Combinator from outside the US - Some Questions

#17

Post by namit »

Great question, cause I am in the same boat. One thing I was looking into was "Startup Visa", more info here: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f... The other thing was the E2 Visa, however for some unknown reason, it is not available to Indians due to lack of treaty. More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-2_visa As taurussai has mentioned, work on the application and interview and the amazing YC community can help sort out the rest. P.S. - If any of YC Community would be open to sharing how to make it work, it would be great for future YC candidates.

Re: [Ask HN] Applying to Y Combinator from outside the US - Some Questions

#18

Post by matthewowen »

ig1 wrote: post #13
MojoJolo wrote: post #4

This question is also in my mind. Will tourist visa work for YC?

Various non-american founders have done US accelerators on ESTA and B1 visas.

And it is very fortunate that they weren't deported, and that it didn't harm their ability to get visas in the future.

Really. US immigration is more perverse and frustrating than you can imagine. You might be fine, but just because someone said 'I did this and it was OK' doesn't mean it will be. If you aren't sure, take legal advice.

Also, point of information, ESTA isn't a visa. They did it on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). ESTA is part of the process of entering on the Visa Waiver Program

Re: [Ask HN] Applying to Y Combinator from outside the US - Some Questions

#19

Post by mansigandhi »

MojoJolo wrote: post #6
nchuhoai wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would be a question I have as well. AFAIK know, there it no Visa suited for YC unless you can do ESTA.

Someone told me that you can't register a business or incorporate a company as a tourist. So maybe, tourist visa will not work for YC? Because AFAIK you need to be incorporated in YC, right? Also, can you explain ESTA to me?

A non-citizen of the US can register a company in certain states (Delaware is the most common one). I'm an Indian Citizen and our company is a C-Corp there. I go back and forth on a Business Visa.

Re: [Ask HN] Applying to Y Combinator from outside the US - Some Questions

#20

Post by ig1 »

matthewowen wrote: post #18
ig1 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Various non-american founders have done US accelerators on ESTA and B1 visas.

And it is very fortunate that they weren't deported, and that it didn't harm their ability to get visas in the future. Really. US immigration is more perverse and frustrating than you can imagine. You might be fine, but just because someone said 'I did this and it was OK' doesn't mean it will be. If you aren't sure, take legal advice. Also, point of information, ESTA isn't a visa. They did it on the Visa Waiver Progr…

A large number of founders have done this (in the hundreds now) and I'm not aware of anyone having a problem with it, even with people specifically stating what they were doing in the US (people however have had problems when they've described YC as an "educational program").

Moreover the visa waiver is used extensively by technology companies, investment banks and consultancies when having foreign employees work out of their US offices for short periods (upto several months).

Is it a legally airtight option ? - no. Is it in practice what everyone uses ? - yes.

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