Dear Sophie: How can I return to the United States as a Founder?

Right here is one other version Recommendation column “Pricey Sophie” that solutions immigration questions on working in tech firms.

“Your questions are very important to the dissemination of information that enables folks around the globe to cross borders and observe their goals,” he says. sophie alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration lawyer. “Whether or not you are in search of a job in folks operations, a founder or Silicon Valley, answer your questions in my subsequent nook.”

TechCrunch+ members get entry to weekly “Pricey Sophie” columns; Use promo code ALCORN to buy a one- or two-year subscription with 50% off.

Pricey Sophie,

I lived and labored with the L-1B for a 12 months in the US after which switched to the H-1B for two.5 years and went again to India (the place I used to be a citizen) and began a enterprise.

Now I wish to return to the USA to boost funds for my enterprise. What are my choices for returning to the US as a founder?

— Quick Performing Founder

Pricey Quick-Transferring,

Congratulations on beginning your personal enterprise and making the transfer to come back again to America to develop your ventures and safe buyers! I like to recommend working with an immigration lawyer to determine the most effective choices based mostly in your long-term objectives, in addition to working with a company lawyer to debate the most effective construction for making your startup’s U.S. presence enticing to buyers. Most US buyers select to put money into a dad or mum firm, a US-based Delaware C company.

Relying on which nonimmigrant visa you’re pursuing, you might not need to undergo an in-person consular interview till the tip of this 12 months as you undergo the interview course of on your L-1B in-house takeover specialist data employee visa. . The US State Division has prolonged its visa interview waiver program till the tip of this 12 months. Consular officers have the discretion to waive the visa interview requirement for sure work visas comparable to O-1A and H-1B if the beneficiary has beforehand been granted a visa and has by no means been refused. Sadly, an interview can’t be waived for an L-1 visa.

As a founder you have got a number of visa choices to return to the USA, let’s get to the purpose!

Picture Sources: Joanna Buniak / sophie alcorn (opens in a new window)

B-1 visa

If you wish to set up your enterprise’s presence within the US, discover workplace area, or meet potential buyers, you are able to do so with a B-1 customer visa for enterprise. The B-1 means that you can enter the US and keep for as much as six months. Nonetheless, you can not do any work whereas in B-1. Your immigration lawyer can inform you what actions are allowed.

While you arrive within the USA, be ready that the US Customs and Border Safety officer on the airport might ask what enterprise actions you intend to do throughout your keep.

Whereas within the US with a B-1, you may change your standing to one of many following visas with out leaving the US.