4 ms·

Ask YC: Non-US Founders, What's Your Story?

• maurycy 19y ago
  Oh, on big challenge: cheap country is very demotivating. (I'm from Poland)
  • gustaf 19y ago
    Yes, my understanding that "All countries are equal but some countries are more equal than others"...i.e people from eastern Europe have a bigger problem entering US than people from western. That sucks bad.
• yarek 19y ago
  Legal question: what visa do you arrive in the US?
  • bluishgreen 19y ago
    http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40208 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40208
    • mdemare 19y ago
      That doesn't tell me very much. Should I forget about the Valley then, because visas are too hard to get? I've got better things to do than dealing with immigration issues - it seems a big drawback. The next best option is probably London. I'm guessing it's the best place for start-ups in Europe?
      • bluishgreen 19y ago
        Ease of immigration/visa to US depends on which country you are from. So ask around your place. If anyone has immigrated to the US they are the ones who will be capable of giving you the best picture. And yes, if its too grim, forget about the Vally. Yes, its sad and disappointing especially with all the pundits stressing the value of location. But be wild. Its a constraint, and last time I checked constraints promoted creativity. So use your resourcefulness to make up for your lack of resources. Its fun. Really!
  • lpellis 19y ago
    I'm also wondering about this. J-1 visa (student visa, http://www.hooyou.com/j-1/index.html http://www.hooyou.com/j-1/index.html) seems to be an option, but it would be great to hear from people that actually went.
• rglullis 19y ago
  This is a very important topic for me. I asked a while ago if a B1/B2 visa would be enough to incorporate a company, but no one was able to provide an answer.
  • samwise99 19y ago
    I came to the US on such a visa to create a startup in the Valley. I was not the one responsible for the incorporation paperwork so I can't exactly say. I think it should be ok. However, you will not be allowed to work or receive a salary until you change your visa status. This usually entails leaving and re-entering the US.
    • rglullis 19y ago
      Thanks, guys. I just need to clear one thing now: considering I incorporate in the US, how do I manage to "pay myself and my co-founder"? I mean bills, common expenses, rent, food, etc? Can I transfer company revenue to a personal account? I know it is bad to mix personal/company cash flow, but is it ok/acceptable to use a corporate credit card? I know that this is not something to worry enough to make me lose my sleep, I am just curious about how things are handled fiscally and in terms of accounting. * edit: Removed the "pre" formatting. Sorry.
      • mdemare 19y ago
        Can you edit your reply? The pre/code screws up the layout (in Safari). Thanks!
        • rms 19y ago
          It does it in Firefox too, it happens pretty regularly when someone accidentally puts a space in front of a paragraph of prose.
  • kirubakaran 19y ago
    IANALbAFAIK You don't need any visa to incorporate (unless you want to do an S-corporation which doesn't make sense). You don't even need to be in the US when you incorporate a US company. http://www.thedelawarecompany.com/llc_corporation_information.aspx#nonus http://www.thedelawarecompany.com/llc_corporation_informatio...
• gustaf 19y ago
  I'm one of those founders, last time i put out my email for anyone needing advice I got like 20 different people asking me questions. I'm happy to answer any questions in the forum. This is what think: 1. Don't worry about VISA until you get accepted, it will take too much time 2. To get the right VISA is hard, lawyers will tell you what the law say, not necessary what is the right thing to do in the situation 3. Don't be too honest at the border control. I had a friend once who where touring with their band in US, at the border the asked if they where going to work in the US? (I.e get paid) and they were honest and said yes, the border threw them out. As long as you are not earning money in the US, you're best off by saying you are on vacation.
  • brl 19y ago
    This is terrible advice because if you don't have your story completely straight and they figure out that you have lied to them you could easily find yourself permanently inadmissible to the US. Unless you are an experienced professional at telling lies to people whose job it is to determine if you are lying to them or not you probably shouldn't try to enter the US without having your visa in order.
    • brett 19y ago
      Ha. It's only mildly relevant here, but my inadmissibility to enter Canada just recently expired. I was touring with a band trying to play a show in Vancouver and we got banned for a year for lying to border guards. Boneheadedly, we let the bassist do the talking and the Canadians googled their way to quite a few holes in his story.
      • rms 19y ago
        If it were up to me amusing anecdotes would always be relevant.
• petenixey 19y ago
  right now -the distraction of being buzzed by the blue angels while I'm trying to work! More generally - we've not yet secured our visas but our E2 (foreign investor) application is in and we should be eligible as we've brought a chunk of money from the UK (you need a 'viable' amount - more for a factory, less for a coffee shop). Culture is great and much better (and cheaper) than the UK. SF is a very positive place to be starting a company (Boston's not a whole lot better than London thoguh). Not having a social security number us a royal pain and if you're not careful can sting you all over the place (like bank accounts). One of our founders had very good relations with his bank so we just about managed to get personal and business accounts but that can take a long time and you need one before you apply for your visa. 3 month stints are feasible but dangerous. We're on our second and I know others who've done three but who are definitely on the edge now. As Gustav said, don't say you're getting paid - treat YC as a training programme and if you at all can then pay yourself through your home company. Don't lie to customs either though - our lawyer (who used to do visas for you tube and google advised that you're much better off being bounced honestly than having a lie highlighted during your actual visa interview. All in, it's all just about possible (though we can confirm that for certain if and when our visa's get issued - the process takes 4 months and that's after you've sorted out your bank account, incorporation, investment etc) but tricky. It'll definitely sink a lot of time.
• falsestprophet 19y ago
  If you are from a friendly country, I understand it is easy to get a long tourist visa. All of the immigration drama is about employment, so if you do not get paid while in America then as far as I can tell you are actually a tourist. edit: or ask petenixey
• kashif 19y ago
  From my research, the following process is legit. But please check with a lawyer/US Embassy. 1. Set up a bank account in your host country. 2. Get a B1/B2 visa and then go to the US. 3. Assuming you get selected at YC you will need to setup the a company which is fine. 4. Next you will need to take the YC investment of $15K, but you can't take that into a US account, so instead have them wire it to your account in your host country. After this when you come back for 3 months, you should be okay as long as you withdraw money only from your account. If possible get your visa status changed to a work visa then.