4 ms·

I would like to focus on the first 89 days (if I make it to YC 2011 winter). I don't mind running a "status" operation during those initial three months. I can

I would like to focus on the first 89 days (if I make it to YC 2011 winter). I don't mind running a "status" operation during those initial three months. I can also live with the possibility that I will have to run my company from The Netherlands for a while (months, years, forever) after that. What I can't live with is the chance of accidentally messing with immigration law during those three months. The big question then is: does Y combinator fall under the restrictions of the Visa Waiver Program? I've heard people claim the whole Y-Combinator program can be seen as "seeking investment", but there's also a coding aspect to it. My plan would be to work as a single founder, doing part of the work myself and hiring others outside the USA through Elance.

sprovoost 16y ago
I should mention that the Visa Waiver Program seems to me the only possible option for those first three months, because there is only 1 month between being accepted into the program and moving to Silicon Valley. Other visa options seem to have total processing times in the order of months or worse and no guarantees. So if it can't be legally done under that program, it can't be legally done period, as far as I understand. Also, let's imagine this scenario: 1 - I get accepted into the program 2 - I book a ticket and fly to the USA 3 - I explain the immigration officer in detail what my plan is (I know, they might not even let me) 4 - The immigration officer is "convinced" and lets me into the country* 5 - a while (or even a decade) later it turns out to be illegal. Does that make me liable even though the immigration official made a mistake in approving my visit? Can I even record the conversation for legal purposes? My guess is that immigrant/visitor rights are fairly minimal... * = in my deal with Y-Combinator I would have to account for the possibility of being denied access; either by reversing the investment or by making do with virtual presence.

sprovoost 16y ago

I should mention that the Visa Waiver Program seems to me the only possible option for those first three months, because there is only 1 month between being accepted into the program and moving to Silicon Valley. Other visa options seem to have total processing times in the order of months or worse and no guarantees. So if it can't be legally done under that program, it can't be legally done period, as far as I understand. Also, let's imagine this scenario: 1 - I get accepted into the program 2 - I book a ticket and fly to the USA 3 - I explain the immigration officer in detail what my plan is (I know, they might not even let me) 4 - The immigration officer is "convinced" and lets me into the country* 5 - a while (or even a decade) later it turns out to be illegal. Does that make me liable even though the immigration official made a mistake in approving my visit? Can I even record the conversation for legal purposes? My guess is that immigrant/visitor rights are fairly minimal... * = in my deal with Y-Combinator I would have to account for the possibility of being denied access; either by reversing the investment or by making do with virtual presence.