Upload
craig-montuori
View
221
Download
1
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
How Not To Get Deported:Hacking a Startup Visa
Craig MontuoriFounder & Executive Director
PolitiHacks
Are you an immigrant entrepreneur who
was…?• Educated at a US College or
University?• OR cofounding a company with
an American?• OR seeking to raise ≥ USD 100k?
YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE
Meet HoaWon $34,000 in student startup competitions—
Would have been deported if she dropped out for her company
Visa Status Quo
Startups don’t follow the well traveled
road
United States Government…
Does
92 Pathways to a Visa
But a Startup Visa Ain’t One
What’s Wrong Now?
ALL
START
UPS
H-1B
FOR
ACADEM
ICS
O-1
…but we use O-1 anyway
Just squint a little (with a good
lawyer)
So… How do immigrant
entrepreneurs get visas? They don’t! …except through
hacks.
Some breakage may occur when
hacking…
…but can be fixed, with some elbow
grease
Can’t Put Everyone on World News
with Diane Sawyer
…Not All Happy Endings
Problems We Face
Wasn’t I working on a company?
And need money to eat, keep my
venture going?
H~uh, but I didn’t think I was a
criminal
Aurora Chiesté Story
So what works?
Consult a lawyer!
…but pick a 10x lawyer
Consult your network for
recommendations
Do your research:Visa Choice
Common Visa Options• O-1 (difficulty in qualifying)• L-1 (time issues)• E-2 (certain countries)• B-1 (limitations)• EB Green Card (many years wait)
Have visa option elimination questions
Understand Who Decides, How They
Think
Expect suspicion
Minimize foreign travel
Avoid startup community jargon
NEVER SAY “HACK*”
System is clean—not perfect
Breaking out of failure modes