The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) recently announced that it has launched a website geared towards providing potential immigrant entrepreneurs with a general overview The website, Entrepreneur Pathways, does a good job describing the general process for obtaining an employment-authorizing visa, and gives a general list of the visas possibly capable of use by entrepreneurs.
However, that is where the website stops – at the general, overarching ideas and concepts. An entrepreneur looking at it will probably have many unanswered questions. A viewer might also get a false impression of the complexity of obtaining immigration status in the United States as an entrepreneur. For example, the website lists the B-1 business visa as a possible visa to use for entrepreneurs – however the website doesn’t mention that an entrepreneur cannot be an employee as a B-1 visa holder. Further, the website describes the H-1B visa as an option, “if you are planning to work for the business you start in the United States…” Which is true – but explain that to this San Fransisco Entrepreneur who recently had a Money CNN news article written about his difficulties securing an H-1B visa through a company he founded in 2010 and that had already produced 15 U.S. worker positions.
Entrepreneur Pathways is a good starting point for would be entrepreneurs seeking to enter the United States. However, the process is much more complex than suggested on the website. If you are thinking of creating a business in the United States, speak to an immigration lawyer before getting started. It will save you a lot of time and headache.