Communicated Content – Thousands of foreigners come to the US every year to launch a successful startup and become millionaires. The US government actively encourages local businessmen to invest in start-ups as they will certainly benefit the US economy. Do you want to start a startup in the USA? Read on to find out how not to turn this event into a waste of time and money. Now, let’s talk about which visa is better to choose for moving to the US.
Statistics show that approximately 45% of successful startups in the US have been started by foreign founders. Among the most talented immigrant entrepreneurs are Jan Koum of WhatsApp and Sergey Brin of Google.
What visas do startup founders need?
Let’s see which US visas allow entrepreneurs to enter the country and open a startup here. Visas for entrepreneurs are divided into non-immigrant and immigrant.
Non-immigrant visas include B-1, O-1, E-2, H1-B, and L-1. The easiest way to come to the US is to get a B-1 visa. With such a visa, you can stay in the country for up to 6 months. This visa does not entitle you to a legal job. However, you can meet with partners, study the market situation, and expand your contacts. The B-1 visa is useful for those who are still thinking about starting a startup in the US or moving their existing business here. This is the simplest type of US visa, which will allow you to meet with potential investors to launch a startup.
The O-1 non-immigrant visa is one of the most popular among founders. The US government issues this type of visa to people with extraordinary abilities in science and business. You need to be one of the leaders in your field of activity and have documents that confirm this. This visa is the most popular among foreign startup founders.
Immigrant visas include the EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, and the EB-5 investor visa. The last visa option allows you to get first a temporary and then a permanent Green Card. EB-1 and EB-2 visas are issued to persons of extraordinary ability. Unlike an O-1 visa, an EB-1 or EB-2 visa holder immediately gets the opportunity to live and work in the US permanently.
We also want to note that the L-1 nonimmigrant visa allows a foreign enterprise to open its office in the US and start work there. For example, your business is programming for American clients. By opening your branch in the US, you will be able to work more productively in the local market. Families of company employees who have received an L-1 visa are also eligible to live and work in the United States.
Thus, now you know what type of visa you need to open a startup in the USA. The main rule of a successful startup is not to delay its start. The USA is a country that is always open to smart people with good business ideas.
