Question about E-2 visa (investor visa)... If I create a US company from abroad and start making money, can that revenue in US bank account be counted as investment? Or should I transfer the money back home and then reinvest in US business?
I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
21–30 of 479 posts
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#22As a European entrepreneur with some success and some international recognition what would you recommend is the best strategy to get a US work visa and move there. For instance starting a new company in the US or a new branch or something like the O1 visa? I have British, Irish, Polish nationalities and perhaps one of the them has good odds on a visa lottery?
Thanks!
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#23Question about E2 treaty countries.
If one is an E2 treaty country citizen, and starts a company in the treaty country, how difficult would it be to create an American presence?
Could you go a bit more into E2 and how it could be used by start ups (if at all)?
And also, could you go a bit into what an E2 treaty county citizen can do to live/work in the US?
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#24Thank you for doing this!
I
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#25Is it risky to change jobs on H1B with an I-140 approved right now? Both in terms of H1B transfer and especially a new PERM filing since a lot of Americans are out of jobs right now. Have you noticed or do you anticipate PERM filings being difficult? Thanks for doing this, Peter!
To date, because of the pandemic and job loss, I haven't seen any change in H-1B or PERM processing (and in fact I would argue both have improved in recent months) but it's possible - even likely - that PERM processing will be impacted because of the job loss.
If I changed jobs and transfer went through, I’m still able to get an H1B extension with an already approved I-140 even if the new PERM filing is impacted, yes?
Thanks again!
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#26Hi Peter! I’m a highly skilled engineer and reasonably accomplished entrepreneur (founder of a VC-backed startup that is still alive but hasn’t taken off, and I no longer work there). I’m a natural born citizen of Sweden and I live there. I’d like to emigrate to the US, with citizenship as the goal. I can spend a bit of money on it, but I’m not wealthy. What’s my best bet? What would you say is the probability of suc…
The answer really depends on your background/accomplishments and whether you would be working for your own company or for another company. Oftentimes, for entrepreneurs, the best and easiest option is the E-2 investor visa, which is available to Swedish citizens.
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#27Does YC pay your standard billable rate, or do they send you enough business to warrant a discount?
Laughed at this - sounds like something a YC exec would post under an alternative account even though I'm sure it isn't
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#28How to satisfy the PERM physical notice posting requirement when all offices are closed due to CoViD (keycard access is revoked, all employees WFH)? Is it enough to post it in an empty office and/or electronically on the intranet? What if the office never reopens, or not anytime soon?
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#29Hi Peter, I’m currently on h1b and my visa stamp on passport is from my ex employer and is expired. Is it too risky to travel abroad? Will I still be able to get a new visa stamp due to the visa ban?
Thank you!
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#30As a European entrepreneur with some success and some international recognition what would you recommend is the best strategy to get a US work visa and move there. For instance starting a new company in the US or a new branch or something like the O1 visa? I have British, Irish, Polish nationalities and perhaps one of the them has good odds on a visa lottery? Thanks!
The answer really depends on your background/accomplishments but (based on the limited information provided) it appears that the O-1 and E-2 visas might be good options as well as the L-1.