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While the B-1 would allow you to engage in certain business activities, such as setting up the business, meeting with potential investors and clients, etc., it
by proberts 7y ago
While the B-1 would allow you to engage in certain business activities, such as setting up the business, meeting with potential investors and clients, etc., it wouldn't allow you to do "productive" work in the U.S. And yes, frequent travel to the U.S. as a B-1 visitor can raise questions with CBP about what you are doing (whether you are you working without authorization in the U.S.) and where you are living (whether you are residing in the U.S.) and cause significant problems. And yes, we handle these types of matters all the time. At a minimum, we could give you a lay of the land.
- thewinnie 7y agoI have a similar situation. So can you elaborate, please? > whether you are you working without authorization in the U.S. What is the proper definition of "working"? If I do stuff for my own business and my business has a revenue, what's wrong with that from a CBP perspective? Every time I cross the board I'm getting strong recommendations to get E2 or L1-A but they both have some limitations which I don't know how to overcome (I need to travel regularly back and forth and my country does not have mulity entry E2 visas)
- proberts 7y agoEssentially, the definition is providing a service/benefit to an entity or person in the U.S. while in the U.S. and receiving something of value in return. So, broadly speaking, this appears to encompass what you describe. What exactly are you doing when you are in the U.S.?
- thewinnie 7y agoTo be more precise I'm a founder and CEO of the entity in the USA, and I'm do all the business only as an entity. What do I do: Usually, I have rounds of meetings with companies who are looking for the software development team in East European countries. Each deal takes 3-4 months to make and basically thats why I need to travel back and forth (there are might be some problems with a client in the USA or with engineers abroad)
- whenchamenia 7y agoSales, what you just described, is a pretty clear cut case of exchanging value.
- thewinnie 7y agoYeap, And that's what business visa is for - exchanging some information.