I do not think that the comments here are very good advice. I know a very good immigration attorney if you need one. Here are my two cents:
* H1B hit its cap last year, probably hit its cap next year. It's a lottery if you'll get one – I know a lot of people that did not get them – It's also very hard to get a H1B if a) you own majority of the company, or b) if you have raised less than $500k.
* I have never met anyone on the E5 visa. It's supposedly a complete nightmare, and takes forever to process.
* The E-2 visa is good but it requires you investing significant capital – six figures – in your business. If you can do this, get this visa since it is the best one.
* I know people that did not get the H1B and ended up working in USA on a J-1 visa: it's a crappy visa but might work, usually requires you to have more structure in the USA though.
My advice is to get a good lawyer and get an O-1 visa. Everyone balks at this visa but if you match these requirements you are a long way towards it:
* Have press about your startup (techcrunch etc)
* Have been accepted in an accelerator
* Have a degree
* Can get 5 or 10 reference letters from customers / advisors / investors saying how great you are.
One caveat is that again, you need six figures in the bank. Of all the visas though the O-1 is by far the nearest to an Entrepreneurs visa. I know dozens of people with them.
Comments
I do not think that the comments here are very good advice. I know a very good immigration attorney if you need one. Here are my two cents:
* H1B hit its cap last year, probably hit its cap next year. It's a lottery if you'll get one – I know a lot of people that did not get them – It's also very hard to get a H1B if a) you own majority of the company, or b) if you have raised less than $500k.
* I have never met anyone on the E5 visa. It's supposedly a complete nightmare, and takes forever to process.
* The E-2 visa is good but it requires you investing significant capital – six figures – in your business. If you can do this, get this visa since it is the best one.
* I know people that did not get the H1B and ended up working in USA on a J-1 visa: it's a crappy visa but might work, usually requires you to have more structure in the USA though.
My advice is to get a good lawyer and get an O-1 visa. Everyone balks at this visa but if you match these requirements you are a long way towards it:
* Have press about your startup (techcrunch etc)
* Have been accepted in an accelerator
* Have a degree
* Can get 5 or 10 reference letters from customers / advisors / investors saying how great you are.
One caveat is that again, you need six figures in the bank. Of all the visas though the O-1 is by far the nearest to an Entrepreneurs visa. I know dozens of people with them.
What are the odds of getting an O-1 ? Almost all of the entrepreneurs who get funded and get press would fit in the above criteria. Il drop you a dm.