Ask Sophie™: Can I launch a startup if I’m in the US on a student visa?
Dear Sophie, I just found out that I’ve been accepted to an American university, which was my first choice! One day, my dream would be to create my own startup in the U.S. Is there any groundwork I am allowed to lay to make my dream come true? — Forward-Looking Founder Subscribe to Our Newsletter! […]
Ask Sophie™: Which visas will allow us to expand our startup in the US?
Which visas will allow us to expand our startup in the US? Dear Sophie, My co-founder and I launched a B2B SaaS startup in Poland a few years ago and are now looking to expand in the United States for market access since we have product market fit in a few countries in Europe. We […]
Ask Sophie™: How can I return to the U.S. as a founder?
How can I return to the U.S. as a founder? Dear Sophie, I lived and worked in the United States on an L-1B for a year, and then changed to an H-1B for 2.5 years before I moved back to India (where I’m a citizen) and founded a startup. Now I want to return to […]
Ask Sophie™: Last-minute H-1Bs, O-1A & EB-1A extraordinary credential prep
Dear Sophie, How many people are employers going to register in the H-1B lottery this year? Will there be fewer because of all of the layoffs? Is it still possible to include additional candidates before the deadline next week? — Fast-paced Founder Subscribe to Our Newsletter! Image Credits: Joanna Buniak / Sophie Alcorn Dear Fast-paced, We’re in […]
Ask Sophie™: Are published articles a big plus for the O-1A or H-1B visa?
Dear Sophie, I’m the founder and CEO of a startup in Istanbul. I’ve heard that articles in publications about an entrepreneur or a startup can be a big plus when applying for an O-1A or H-1B visa. Is that true? Which publications are valid? Tier-1? Should they be in English? Thank you for your help! […]
Ask Sophie™: Fast options for hiring someone with expiring grace period and filing fee hikes
Dear Sophie, I’m a co-founder of a very early-stage startup. My co-founder and I are considering bringing on a third co-founder, who was recently laid off. She is currently in the United States on an H-1B with a grace period that will expire soon. What are the fastest, least risky immigration options that we should […]
Ask Sophie™: My co-founder’s a green card applicant who just got laid off, now what do we do?
Dear Sophie, My co-founder and I were both laid off from Big Tech last week and it’s the kick we needed to go all-in on our startup. We’re both first-time founders, but they need immigration sponsorship to maintain status with our startup. Do we look at an O-1A in the 60-day grace period? Thanks! — […]
Ask Sophie™: How to get an O-1 for UX/UI design for freelance web3 projects?
Here’s another edition of “Ask Sophie™,” the advice column that answers immigration-related questions about working at technology companies. “Your questions are vital to the spread of knowledge that allows people all over the world to rise above borders and pursue their dreams,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration attorney. “Whether you’re in people ops, a founder, […]
Ask Sophie™: How do we qualify for each of the O-1A criteria?
Here’s another edition of “Ask Sophie™,” the advice column that answers immigration-related questions about working at technology companies. “Your questions are vital to the spread of knowledge that allows people all over the world to rise above borders and pursue their dreams,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration attorney. “Whether you’re in people ops, a founder […]
Ask Sophie™: O-1A vs International Entrepreneur Parole
Dear Sophie, Are there any advantages to International Entrepreneur Parole over an O-1 visa? IEP seems to require $250k in institutional backing – so getting an O-1A doesn’t seem like a huge reach from there. I feel like the O-1A has many more advantages as well. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. — […]