Having a comprehensive understanding of the immigration options available to you and your team is critical for startups aiming to leave their mark on the global stage. At Alcorn Immigration, we empower founders and hiring managers to access global talent pools and expand their opportunities in an increasingly connected world. To accomplish, together with our team of immigration attorneys for startups, consider contacting our New York City office at (855) 546-0015 today.
How We Help Startups
We help startups by practicing compassionate, visionary, and rigorous immigration law to overcome borders and connect the world. Through our efforts, we have secured a highly successful approval rate for our clients. Whether you are the founder of a tech startup looking to grow your business on American soil or an HR manager working to attract and retain top talent for your company, we can help guide you through all steps of the immigration process.
Tech Startup & Business Immigration
Perhaps you are a tech startup preparing to hire a worker from another country, or a mid-size enterprise looking to ramp up your global operations. Maybe you are part of a busy HR team within a large multinational company seeking to streamline operations. Whatever the case, having an effective immigration policy in place is key to meeting your immediate business objectives and long-term recruiting goals.
Our team of experienced immigration attorneys for startups works with companies to apply for and secure the following nonimmigrant work visas:
- H-1B visa for professionals with specialized knowledge.
- O-1A visas for key employees who possess extraordinary abilities in their field.
- L-1 visas for managers and executives who wish to travel to the U.S. to set up a new office for their company.
- TN visas for Canadian and Mexican citizens to engage in business with a U.S. employer.
- E-3 visa for Australian citizens and H1-B1 visas for Chile and Singapore citizens who work in specialty occupations.
- E-1 trade visa, E-2 investor visa, and J-1 researcher visa for other types of business and employment in the United States.
Permanent Residence for Employees
With at least 140,000 employment-based Green Cards offered to qualified foreign-born workers every year, there is a wealth of opportunities for founders and their key employees to gain permanent residence. Providing flexibility and freedom, permanent residence is the ideal solution for entrepreneurs who want to remain in the U.S. long-term. We help startups apply for and secure the following Green Cards for key employees:
- EB-1A and EB-1B are for individuals with extraordinary ability in their field and outstanding professors and researchers
- EB-1C is intended for multinational managers and executives currently employed abroad to travel to the U.S. and establish or develop a New York City office.
- EB-2 NIW for employees who meet the criteria for the National Interest Waiver, thereby waiving the labor certification requirement.
- EB-2 for individuals with an advanced degree or exceptional ability
- EB-3 for skilled workers, professionals, or other workers
Startup Founder Immigration
With more than half of all unicorn companies founded by immigrant entrepreneurs, economic growth depends largely on the work of foreign-born founders. We provide support and guidance through all facets of the immigration process, helping startup founders apply for and secure:
- O-1A visas for founders with extraordinary ability in their field. While the O-1A visas have strict eligibility criteria, many founders have the background and expertise required to qualify for this visa. Proving extraordinary ability is extraordinarily difficult, however, and we offer a comprehensive prep course to help you learn what it takes to successfully petition for the O-1A visa.
- H-1B visas for employees with specialized knowledge and a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Our immigration attorneys for startups will help you submit your petition as a cap-exempt employer to bypass the H-1B lottery system.
- L-1 intracompany transferee visas for startup founders who have already established a company abroad and wish to travel to the U.S. to develop an office in Manhattan or Brooklyn.
- E-1/E-2 essential employee visas for traders and investors who are nationals of treaty countries.
- B-1 business visas and B-2 tourist visas are granted to entrepreneurs who want to participate in an accelerator program, raise capital, negotiate contracts, or identify an office space for their startups.
Permanent Residence for Founders
Permanent residence is an ideal solution for founders who want to remain in the United States long-term to grow and develop their businesses. Employment-based immigration may also be the right option for entrepreneurs who want the freedom to establish several companies without needing a new work visa for each business. The EB-1A, EB-1C, and EB-2 NIW Green Cards are often recommended for founders due to the relative ease of the petition process, the flexibility of these Green Cards, and the equivalence of eligibility requirements with common nonimmigrant startup visas.
Legal Launch for Startups
The U.S. immigration system is complex, and there is a great deal of confusion surrounding how it works and how to successfully navigate the visa process. Knowing how to proceed is critical to your success, but it can be difficult to pinpoint reliable and accurate advice. In response, we created Legal Launch with Alcorn to support founders and individuals through all stages of the immigration process. In this 4 week course, our immigration attorneys for startups work alongside motivated entrepreneurs to develop a tailored legal strategy and move forward with confidence.
How to Choose the Best Immigration Attorney for Founders
The success of a new startup venture often hinges on the ability of its founder to attract a great team. Your immigration attorney is a key member of your team. The immigration strategy they employ for your startup will impact your ability to grow your company in the U.S. and hire the team members who will help you succeed. When choosing an immigration attorney for startups in New York City, it can be helpful to consider the following:
- Breadth of experience. Are they knowledgeable of this very tricky process, and do they have a demonstrated record of success in handling complex cases?
- Responsiveness. Do they communicate with you regularly and answer your questions in a timely fashion?
- Industry expertise. Does the attorney have experience working with business and tech-minded individuals?
- Integrity. What is the mission of the law firm? How do they ensure integrity and transparency in every facet of their work?
The Alcorn Method
After spending years working alongside startups and founders to apply for and secure immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, we are proud to have been voted the top law firm in California for technology startups. Our reputation has been solidified through our proven method:
- Strategize. We review our clients’ business goals, recruitment techniques, and growth metrics to identify the best strategy for your startup.
- Prepare. Without careful preparation, all our efforts are in vain. We prepare all documentation according to the strict requirements of the USCIS or State Department.
- File. We manage your case, so you do not have to, including filing your application and handling correspondence regarding your petition.
- Win. By far our favorite part of the process is winning. With a 95%+ approval rating, we have the opportunity to celebrate with our clients often.
Immigration Resources for Startups
As knowledgeable immigration attorneys for startups, our goal is to provide the resources necessary for startups to flourish in the United States, such as:
- Ask SophieTM, as seen on TechCrunch
- Sophie Alcorn Podcast
- Order the Book
- Register for Events
- Alcorn Academy
Accomplish, Together
In a rapidly changing technological landscape, staying agile in navigating immigration matters is key to your success. At Alcorn Immigration, we empower startups to address immigration issues as they arise and make informed decisions regarding their international presence and growth in Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Park Slope, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Flatiron District, and Silicon Alley. For more insight into how we can accomplish, together, consider connecting with our team of immigration attorneys for startups at (855) 546-0015 today.
