3 ms·

Ask HN: Which US Visa is needed for this?

I'm a french consultant (self-employed). I'm receiving requests from American companies for Ruby ETL work (especially after launching http://www.kiba-etl.org). Althought I almost exclusively work remote, I wonder: what is the recommended Visa to allow me to work on-site for an american client? Some friends have recommended the Visa Waiver program [1], but this case does not appear in the allowed travel purposes. Thanks for your guidance :-) [1] http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

crudbug 11y ago
B2 Business visa [1] might be your ticket. You might have to tweak your payments to go via international borders. :-) Better consult an attorney. [1]http://immigration.laws.com/visa/b2-business-visa http://immigration.laws.com/visa/b2-business-visa
- thibaut_barrere 11y ago
  Thanks - I'm indeed going to contact an attorney and the embassy.
e15ctr0n 11y ago
> Some friends have recommended the Visa Waiver program, but this case does not appear in the allowed travel purposes. You're right - the Visa Waiver program is not right for working in the US. If you can get an American company to sponsor an H1-B visa, that is one option. You will be restricted to working for that firm alone. If you have exceptional ability in your field, and you can convince an agent to sponsor you on this basis, you could qualify for the O Visa. If you become a college student in America via the F-1 visa, you can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week). No restriction on companies you can work for. If you get a Green Card via the annual Diversity Visa Lottery or through marriage to an American citizen, you can set up as a consultant (self-employed) and work for multiple companies. In short, there is no quick and dirty way for you to work onsite for an American client.
- thibaut_barrere 11y ago
  To clarify "work", I wouldn't be employed by the american company. My company would emit invoices for payments (not salary). Just in case! Thanks for your detailed response otherwise.
  - e15ctr0n 11y ago
    If you are enter the United States on the visa waiver program, you cannot work, irrespective of how the compensation is received.
    - thibaut_barrere 11y ago
      Thanks!
    - petercooper 11y ago
      While you're not exactly wrong (especially in the case presented), there are a variety of exceptions, for a loose definition of 'work' - which some future readers/searchers here might find useful. For example, if you're manning a booth at an exhibition for your foreign employer, that's work but allowed. Selling, being a service engineering, training, and some other things are also allowed with very careful restrictions. More information at http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/BusinessVisa%20Purpose%20Listings%20March%202014%20flier.pdf http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/BusinessVisa%20Pur...

crudbug 11y ago

B2 Business visa [1] might be your ticket. You might have to tweak your payments to go via international borders. :-) Better consult an attorney. [1]http://immigration.laws.com/visa/b2-business-visa http://immigration.laws.com/visa/b2-business-visa

thibaut_barrere 11y ago
Thanks - I'm indeed going to contact an attorney and the embassy.

e15ctr0n 11y ago

> Some friends have recommended the Visa Waiver program, but this case does not appear in the allowed travel purposes. You're right - the Visa Waiver program is not right for working in the US. If you can get an American company to sponsor an H1-B visa, that is one option. You will be restricted to working for that firm alone. If you have exceptional ability in your field, and you can convince an agent to sponsor you on this basis, you could qualify for the O Visa. If you become a college student in America via the F-1 visa, you can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week). No restriction on companies you can work for. If you get a Green Card via the annual Diversity Visa Lottery or through marriage to an American citizen, you can set up as a consultant (self-employed) and work for multiple companies. In short, there is no quick and dirty way for you to work onsite for an American client.

thibaut_barrere 11y ago
To clarify "work", I wouldn't be employed by the american company. My company would emit invoices for payments (not salary). Just in case! Thanks for your detailed response otherwise.
- e15ctr0n 11y ago
  If you are enter the United States on the visa waiver program, you cannot work, irrespective of how the compensation is received.
  - thibaut_barrere 11y ago
    Thanks!
  - petercooper 11y ago
    While you're not exactly wrong (especially in the case presented), there are a variety of exceptions, for a loose definition of 'work' - which some future readers/searchers here might find useful. For example, if you're manning a booth at an exhibition for your foreign employer, that's work but allowed. Selling, being a service engineering, training, and some other things are also allowed with very careful restrictions. More information at http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/BusinessVisa%20Purpose%20Listings%20March%202014%20flier.pdf http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/BusinessVisa%20Pur...