Great resource, thanks a lot!
How to intern in Silicon Valley with a J1 visa
31–40 of 51 posts
Re: How to intern in Silicon Valley with a J1 visa
#32I didn't see this point in the article, but I might have missed it:
On a J-1 visa you may have to return to your home country for 2 years after it expires -- you can only visit on tourist/student visas in those two years, not work in the US. I was subject to this, as a UK citizen interning in Redmond between undergraduate years (in 2002), but I have not met many other J-1 holders and don't know how common it was.
http://internationalaffairs.uchicago.edu/page/j-1-status-two...
Re: How to intern in Silicon Valley with a J1 visa
#33What I find interesting though, is that OP went from interning at a YC company, to founding one. Would love to learn more about that process, and the visa situation throughout, since I don't think you can be founding companies and getting investment on a J1 visa. I interned with a big company this summer that had an established J1 process (Microsoft), so didn't have to deal with a lot of these hassles - they organise…
I founded my own company after leaving my internship position and after my J1 ended. I'm on another visa now.
To my knowledge there's no limit to how many J1 visas one can have so you could do another one in the future. The process isn't complicated but a small startup probably doesn't have experience of it so you need to do the heavy lifting there.
Re: How to intern in Silicon Valley with a J1 visa
#34I didn't see this point in the article, but I might have missed it: On a J-1 visa you may have to return to your home country for 2 years after it expires -- you can only visit on tourist/student visas in those two years, not work in the US. I was subject to this, as a UK citizen interning in Redmond between undergraduate years (in 2002), but I have not met many other J-1 holders and don't know how common it was. htt…
This varies a lot depending on your exact situation. I interned in the bay area last year and it didn't apply to my case - and now I'm back on an H1 without any issues.
The 212-E 2 year home country requirement has 3 conditions [1]. Specifically, if you're interning, you do not fall under "Government funded exchange program", nor do you fall under "Graduate medical education or training". You may fall under "Specialized knowledge or skill: Skills List" but that list is on a per country basis. [2]
[1] http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1267.html#15
Re: How to intern in Silicon Valley with a J1 visa
#35I didn't see this point in the article, but I might have missed it: On a J-1 visa you may have to return to your home country for 2 years after it expires -- you can only visit on tourist/student visas in those two years, not work in the US. I was subject to this, as a UK citizen interning in Redmond between undergraduate years (in 2002), but I have not met many other J-1 holders and don't know how common it was. htt…
This is what is commonly known as Two Year Rule or 212(e) which is applicable to few different situations, e.g. if you get a grant from your government for your training or your profession is on your home country's skill list. It's also pretty random and I for example was stamped with the rule but many countries issues "no objection" letters which allow you to waive the requirement. Two year rule does only affect some visa types, such as H1b but not O1 or J1 visas.
Here's more information: http://www.isso.cornell.edu/academicstaff/jwaiver.php
Re: How to intern in Silicon Valley with a J1 visa
#36At my university (Waterloo), this is a pretty good everything-you-need-to-know, but of course it's mainly for UWaterloo students (Canada) http://stephenholiday.com/Unofficial-Waterloo-USA-Intern-Gui...
Re: How to intern in Silicon Valley with a J1 visa
#37>get at least $4k/mo to manage without savings I'd love a $24/hr development position. Interns these days are getting paid too well. I interned for half as much and I'm not making much more.
SF is really, really expensive.
Re: How to intern in Silicon Valley with a J1 visa
#38What I find interesting though, is that OP went from interning at a YC company, to founding one. Would love to learn more about that process, and the visa situation throughout, since I don't think you can be founding companies and getting investment on a J1 visa. I interned with a big company this summer that had an established J1 process (Microsoft), so didn't have to deal with a lot of these hassles - they organise…
I founded my own company after leaving my internship position and after my J1 ended. I'm on another visa now. To my knowledge there's no limit to how many J1 visas one can have so you could do another one in the future. The process isn't complicated but a small startup probably doesn't have experience of it so you need to do the heavy lifting there.
If I may ask you, what kind of visa do you have now? B or E? Or even something else?
Re: How to intern in Silicon Valley with a J1 visa
#39>get at least $4k/mo to manage without savings I'd love a $24/hr development position. Interns these days are getting paid too well. I interned for half as much and I'm not making much more.
SF is really, really expensive.
I interned in SF and other than the rent, everything else is cheaper comparing to Canada. Aside from healthcare and education of course.
Re: How to intern in Silicon Valley with a J1 visa
#40$4k/month for living expenses...is it that bad in SF? That's pretty good $ for much of the country, even some of the more expensive cities in the US.