The Founder Visa • Hacker News Board

Re: The Founder Visa

#31

Post by jbenz » Fri, Apr 10, 2009, 11:41 PM UTC

Hear, hear. I couldn't agree more. I have a foreign-born friend who has inspired similar thoughts in me. I'm convinced this friend could found an incredible web startup here in the States if only the Federal Government wasn't making it so difficult for him.

I wrote to my congressman expressing this sentiment. He replied saying in a nutshell: "Don't worry, I strongly support protecting American jobs from foreign encroachment."

I wrote back to say that this was nearly the complete opposite of my concern, and I asked him to respond with an indication that my original email was not misunderstood. Of course I never heard back.

Re: The Founder Visa

#32

Post by atobe » Fri, Apr 10, 2009, 11:41 PM UTC

I wonder, how could one turn this idea into a lobbying effort? Who else realises the benefit of it and would support it? Whom should be contacted and what representation should be made?

I think it's a great idea, btw.

Of all people BillG has actually been before congress and represented on this issue. He had said that Microsoft had often been naive with regard to the contact needed in Washington to get things changed.

Modernising this idea, how about Eric Schmidt?

Re: The Founder Visa

#33

Post by staunch » Fri, Apr 10, 2009, 11:42 PM UTC

arram wrote: post #17

Anyone who missed it should check out the etherpad link: http://etherpad.com/ep/pad/slider/foundervisa Very cool.

The accreditation struggle was tough! Now I want a list of every investors Ronco number.

Re: The Founder Visa

#34

Post by tom_rath » Fri, Apr 10, 2009, 11:42 PM UTC

gord wrote: post #21

A link to a PETITION where one can register support, might give this some political traction. I think pg+hn+/. etc could generate 50k signatures. ideas?

An e-petition will do diddly. Write your senator, congressman and governor on paper, sign the documents and mail them.

Paper letters are the currency of elected representatives, and a stack of 10k letters descending on numerous offices would do infinitely more than a lonely web page with 50k e-mail addresses.

Re: The Founder Visa

#35

Post by ozchrisb » Fri, Apr 10, 2009, 11:44 PM UTC

Just use an E-1 and educate US investors that if they invest in overseas company X then they can get E-1 status.

Re: The Founder Visa

#36

Post by erlanger » Fri, Apr 10, 2009, 11:50 PM UTC

Sorry, but I don't think that this makes much sense. INS already has their hands full, and it wouldn't be much fun for them to have to check up on thousands of startup founders to be sure that they're in fact running their business (1) viably, and (2) according to their agreed business plan.

The system would be unbelievably easy to cheat. It also would be stupid easy to turn a "startup" into a money laundering scheme.

Don't take this the wrong way: I really wish that there were an easy way to let legit founders into the US. But it just isn't practical.

Re: The Founder Visa

#37

Post by erlanger » Fri, Apr 10, 2009, 11:52 PM UTC

tomsaffell wrote: post #11

yan wrote: post #3

I'm thinking: how can this be exploited? Can someone just say they're building a new way to shorten urls and need two years in the country to build their business to fruition? And what defines success or progress?

If someone did apply under false pretenses, get here, and do nothing, then what would be the negative impact on the country? PG's suggestion was that they cannot work for other companies, so they are not depriving anyone of a job. They will have to live somehow (on whomever's money they have), and that will go into the local economy. If you add a clause to the visa that they cannot claim any type of social welfare, t…

I worked full-time is a freelancer for quite a while. Nobody asked for my papers, and I won't say anything about taxes. I could've easily laid low when (the few) clients called asking for info (SSN, etc.) for my 1099s, as income was distributed well enough that none would think it a big deal to not send me one.

There's an underground economy, and it doesn't always involve narcotics/guns/prostitutes/dog fighting/etc.

While I deposited checks (one potential obstacle), I don't think anybody would have quaffed if I asked them to pay me via PayPal, where I could transfer the money to a friend's ("accomplice's") bank account.

Re: The Founder Visa

#38

Post by dfranke » Sat, Apr 11, 2009, 12:01 AM UTC

alain94040 wrote: post #6

Having been through the hoops, I'd generally support this, but it's a tough sell in today's economy. Because there are emotions involved. There are already similar visas (EB-5 and E-1). Especially the E-1 category is very close and could easily be amended to fit Paul's ideas (I used the E-1 as co-founder of my previous startup, EVE). One issue that needs to be addressed: you are not likely to get funding until you mo…

> you are not likely to get funding until you move here

I think it's likely that if this visa existed, VCs would adapt to it by becoming more open to funding people who haven't immigrated yet.

Re: The Founder Visa

#39

Post by hillel » Sat, Apr 11, 2009, 12:05 AM UTC

Neat idea except for the part about using investors to validate which startup counts. What about the plenty of viable and compelling startups that have decided to bootstrap?

Re: The Founder Visa

#40

Post by gruseom » Sat, Apr 11, 2009, 12:08 AM UTC

It seems like this might be more viable politically than most attempts at immigration reform in the US because it neutralizes (if not reverses) the "they're taking our jobs" objection. The objection could hardly become "they're starting our businesses".

On the other hand, it's hard to underestimate the irrationality surrounding this issue.

Edit: What meaningful changes could the Obama administration make without having to go through Congress?