The main challenge with working in the US is that you can only get a work permit if you can show that you have enough money to pay yourself at market rates. Wh

The main challenge with working in the US is that you can only get a work permit if you can show that you have enough money to pay yourself at market rates. Which, in places like Silicon Valley, can mean $100k/year. Usually, your startup does not have that kind of cash. So you have a problem. A quick summary of visas: H1: the most common. As long as there is a US company and they can pay you market rates, it works in theory, except there are no visas available, due to quotas, except a few days a year. It's crazy. L1: that only works if you are transferring from one foreign corporation to a related entity (branch, headquarters, etc...). Highly unlikely for startups E1: if your country of origin has a special treaty with the US, and you have established reasonable business, you can send yourself on a mission to start the US branch of your business. That visa is very convenient and has fairly open guidelines, but it very rare. Alain - fairsoftware.net