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Depends on what work takes place. It's a great opportunity to network, and write your own code. Seems to be just fine for YCombinator too. By the way, why is

Depends on what work takes place. It's a great opportunity to network, and write your own code. Seems to be just fine for YCombinator too. By the way, why is the knee-jerk reaction always to talk to a "competent attorney" for stuff like visas? I'd like to think the HN community is a pretty capable group of folks. The US government provides more than enough information online to figure out what will work best for you depending on your activities and to do it on your own. I was able to get my wife a green card completely on my own without having to consult a "competent attorney". If you are sufficiently competent, hiring a professional will save you research time but not much else.

ig1 16y ago
I suspect the YCombinator usage is iffy. YCombinator don't give advice on visas, but rather suggest you speak to YC alumni who've done it. While I'm sure there are many reasons why they take that approach, I wouldn't be surprised if the legality was a big reason. Saying that many developers both for startups and for other industries like finance do go to the US and work 2-3 months without any issue. It's not clearly allowed, but nor is it clearly disallowed. The reason people suggest speaking to an attorney is that if you screw it up, not only will you get deported but you can be banned from re-entry not only to that country but many other countries. There's nothing like "denied entry" being stamped on your passport to get you stopped at every border crossing you cross for the rest of your life.
starkfist 16y ago
You don't want to talk to an attorney in this case because then it will be obvious that you are actually trying to skirt the law, rather than being a tourist. The trick is to act like an idiot. Wear a baseball hat. The people working at the border are idiots and they will empathize with people like them. If you act like the typical annoying know-it-all computer nerd they will deny you out of spite.
WildUtah 16y ago
By the way, why is the knee-jerk reaction always to talk to a "competent attorney" for stuff like visas? There are dozens of guest worker visas for the United States. Just applying for any visa to the USA is sufficient cause for the State Department to deny you future visas for the rest of your life. That includes completely sincere and honest applications. They just consider the application for any visa to be evidence of your suitability for future entrance and they keep track of tiny details forever. It doesn't matter if your life circumstances have changed. If you've seen Brazil, you've met America's immigration bureaucracy. A good immigration lawyer can reduce the trouble. You should never even apply for a tourist visa to the USA without asking an immigration lawyer.
- timcederman 16y ago
  I hope you're joking. Sure it's bureaucratic, but it's also straightforward. Follow the rules and there are no issues. A lawyer for a tourist visa? Please.

ig1 16y ago

I suspect the YCombinator usage is iffy. YCombinator don't give advice on visas, but rather suggest you speak to YC alumni who've done it. While I'm sure there are many reasons why they take that approach, I wouldn't be surprised if the legality was a big reason. Saying that many developers both for startups and for other industries like finance do go to the US and work 2-3 months without any issue. It's not clearly allowed, but nor is it clearly disallowed. The reason people suggest speaking to an attorney is that if you screw it up, not only will you get deported but you can be banned from re-entry not only to that country but many other countries. There's nothing like "denied entry" being stamped on your passport to get you stopped at every border crossing you cross for the rest of your life.

starkfist 16y ago

You don't want to talk to an attorney in this case because then it will be obvious that you are actually trying to skirt the law, rather than being a tourist. The trick is to act like an idiot. Wear a baseball hat. The people working at the border are idiots and they will empathize with people like them. If you act like the typical annoying know-it-all computer nerd they will deny you out of spite.

WildUtah 16y ago

By the way, why is the knee-jerk reaction always to talk to a "competent attorney" for stuff like visas? There are dozens of guest worker visas for the United States. Just applying for any visa to the USA is sufficient cause for the State Department to deny you future visas for the rest of your life. That includes completely sincere and honest applications. They just consider the application for any visa to be evidence of your suitability for future entrance and they keep track of tiny details forever. It doesn't matter if your life circumstances have changed. If you've seen Brazil, you've met America's immigration bureaucracy. A good immigration lawyer can reduce the trouble. You should never even apply for a tourist visa to the USA without asking an immigration lawyer.

timcederman 16y ago
I hope you're joking. Sure it's bureaucratic, but it's also straightforward. Follow the rules and there are no issues. A lawyer for a tourist visa? Please.