Right here’s one other version of “Ask Sophie,” the recommendation column that solutions immigration-related questions on working at expertise corporations.
“Your questions are very important to the unfold of information that enables individuals everywhere in the world to rise above borders and pursue their goals,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration lawyer. “Whether or not you’re in individuals ops, a founder or searching for a job in Silicon Valley, I might like to reply your questions in my subsequent column.”
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Expensive Sophie,
My co-founder and I launched a B2B SaaS startup in Poland a couple of years in the past and at the moment are seeking to develop in america for market entry since we have now product market slot in a couple of nations in Europe.
We actually must be on the bottom to interview our very best customers within the U.S. What visas will permit us to try this?
— Aiming for America
Expensive Aiming,
Congrats on taking this subsequent huge step ahead to develop your startup! I respect you reaching out for immigration steering. Organising your organization in america is a priceless basis to efficiently sponsor you, your co-founder, and different potential workers for visas or inexperienced playing cards, and it additionally makes traders really feel extra snug investing in your organization. I like to recommend you seek the advice of each a startup company lawyer within the state the place you propose to find your organization and an immigration lawyer to help you in your efforts.
Picture Credit: Joanna Buniak / Sophie Alcorn (opens in a brand new window)
Matteo Daste, a company lawyer, accomplice, and head of the Northern California Rising Firms and Enterprise Capital follow at world regulation agency Mayer Brown, recommends that worldwide founders spend a while on the bottom within the U.S. to get a way of the surroundings and alternatives earlier than transferring right here. I just lately chatted with Daste in regards to the challenges worldwide founders face within the U.S. He says he has seen an uptick within the variety of worldwide founders visiting the U.S. post-COVID-19 to kick the tires and launch their long-awaited enlargement and immigration plans.
Come for a go to!
If you wish to take Daste’s recommendation, you and your co-founder can get both a B-1 enterprise customer visa, which is able to allow you to remain for not less than six months, or an ESTA (Digital System for Journey Authorization) visa waiver, which permits residents from 40 nations (together with Poland) to remain for 90 days or much less with out first acquiring a visa. You could inform the U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) officer once you arrive within the U.S. that you’ll be conducting enterprise throughout your keep right here. You must particularly request both a B-1 enterprise customer visa standing or if on ESTA, WB (waiver-business) standing. That may be actually necessary!
