
Visa Pathways for Entrepreneurs
Let Our Columbus Immigration Lawyers Help You Bring Your Business to the U.S.
If you are a foreign national and want to start a new business or have already started one, and you want to come to the U.S. temporarily or permanently to run your company, there are various visa pathways that may be available to you. These were organized by the Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) program, which was created by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and White House to facilitate the creation of new jobs in the U.S. by encouraging immigrant entrepreneurs to bring new enterprises.
The EIR project consisted of three major goals. First, make available to entrepreneurs a clear source of information to help them determine which visa category is the most appropriate for their specific circumstances. Second, improve the ability of the USCIS to adjudicate entrepreneurial immigration cases in the present intricate and rapidly progressing business climate. Third, adjust policies and practices of the USCIS to work better with the realities of the entrepreneurial business world.
The primary entrepreneur visa pathways are:
- Nonimmigrant Visas
- Immigrant Visas
At Shihab and Associates, our work visa attorneys believe U.S. immigration policy should look to the future, and adapt to the needs of the global economy to ensure longstanding competitive dominance in attracting the brightest minds and best talent from all over the globe.
If you have questions regarding the EIR program or any of the immigration visa categories that may be available to you, please call our Columbus immigration lawyers at (888) 915-5057. You can continue reading for more detailed information on entrepreneur visa categories.
What Visa Options Are Available for Startup Entrepreneurs?
Attracting and welcoming foreign entrepreneurs of exceptional ability is essential for the United States to remain a global economic leader. Recent government initiatives have opened up a number of innovative alternate visa pathways for startup entrepreneurs, and choosing the right visa category for a business owner can be a complex and important decision.
For startup entrepreneurs, there are at least six non-immigrant visa pathways available:
B-1 Business Visitor Visa
This type of business visitor visa provides flexibility for business travelers and can be more than just for visiting the U.S. to participate in business meetings or for contract negotiations. This visa can often be used by entrepreneurs based outside the U.S. to set up new or expand existing businesses within the U.S.
There is also a specific type of B-1 visa called the “B-1 in lieu of H-1B” that is especially convenient for this purpose. This type of visa is for short-term professional workers so that employers can remain competitive in a globalized world economy. It can be used by short-term professional workers who are providing local services for a limited time, so long as they are paid from abroad and not from a U.S. source.
The B-1 visa allows for an initial period of stay in the U.S. of up to 6 months, with extensions possible.
