With its robust talent base, access to venture capital, and thriving startup community, there is no better place to innovate than Dallas-Fort Worth. Opportunities in areas like Plano, Irving, and Oak Cliff are abundant for startups and investors alike – especially when it comes to developing new efficiencies and driving innovation in your industry.
As immigration attorneys for startups, we are approachable professionals with a singular focus: engineering creative visa solutions for startups. At Alcorn Immigration, our entrepreneurship practice can fulfill your unique needs while balancing your long-term business objectives. To begin accomplishing, together, consider contacting our office at (855) 546-0015 today.
Tech Startup & Corporate Immigration
From bootstrapped, emerging startups looking to transfer an H-1B worker as their first employee to venture-backed companies looking to expand their talent pool and hire the world’s best and brightest; we have the experience to get it done. We regularly advise tech startups, HR, and People Ops concerning the following:
- 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 Chilean and Singaporean 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
When we work with employers, we create a tailored immigration and compliance strategy to address both short- and long-term goals. Our team partners with startups and mature organizations to enable employers to provide employees with the advantage of work-based immigration sponsorship.
Our immigration attorneys for startups recognize the practical business value of this process, in addition to the personal importance to employees. With decades of experience, we understand the complexities of the following employment-based immigration processes:
- EB-1A and EB-1B are for individuals with extraordinary ability in their field and outstanding professors and researchers
- EB-1C for multinational managers and executives to transfer to an affiliated office in the U.S. or establish a new office in Texas.
- EB-2 PERM Green Card for workers who hold an advanced degree or possess exceptional ability.
- EB-2 NIW for employees who meet the stringent criteria for the National Interest Waiver, thus waiving the requirement for a Labor Condition Application.
- EB-3 for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers.
Startup Founder Immigration
Clarity and certainty about immigration is a dream for startup founders who usually feel stretched in a hundred different directions. Whether you are establishing a VC-backed, tech startup or a lifestyle business that you hope to own and operate for years ahead, we will leverage our in-depth expertise to identify the right solution to ensure your ability to work in the US as quickly as possible and strategize a long-term plan to help you obtain permanent status.
Depending on your goals and objectives, your immigration plan may include any of the following visa options:
- O-1A visas for founders who can demonstrate extraordinary ability in their field through their background, expertise, and acclaim.
- H-1B visas for employees with specialized knowledge. These visas are traditionally granted using the lottery system, but with the right strategy in place, you may be able to leverage cap-exempt employment to sidestep this randomized selection process.
- 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 Dallas, TX.
- 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 may be the right fit for 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 and Employees
Whether you want to plant roots and establish your industry presence long-term, be in the same time zone as your customers, or anything in between, there are a variety of reasons why startup founders may want to secure permanent residence in the United States. Foreign entrepreneurs have the opportunity to set up a company or a subsidiary of their existing business and apply for permanent residence for themselves, their families, and their key employees.
We currently work with companies of all sizes across the high-tech and professional services industries, entrepreneurs, and investors to bring creative immigration solutions to the table. Depending on your situation, we may pursue the following Green Cards on your behalf:
- EB-1A for individuals with extraordinary ability.
- EB-1C for multinational managers and executives.
- EB-2 NIW for talented professionals and researchers who satisfy the three prongs of the National Interest Waiver.
Legal Launch for Startups
At Alcorn Immigration, we are nationally recognized for providing innovative solutions to mobilize global talent. To make these solutions more accessible for busy entrepreneurs, we created Legal Launch – a streamlined, four-week program designed to review your qualifications, assemble your portfolio of accomplishments, and develop a personalized immigration solution to help founders and extraordinary individuals move forward with 100% confidence and clarity.
How to Choose the Best Immigration Attorney for Startups
To prepare for growth and scalability, it is important to understand your options before you need them. The immigration attorney you chose to guide you through the process will make a lasting impact on the longevity of your company in the U.S. The following can be helpful to consider during the evaluation and selection process to ensure that you hire a competent, experienced immigration attorney for startups:
- Do they have experience working with business- and tech-minded individuals and entrepreneurs?
- Are they responsive and answer your questions promptly?
- Do their questions go beyond the surface level and account for the intricacies of your education, funding sources, family, and business objectives?
- Does the law firm have a strong track record of success?
About Sophie Alcorn
As a founder herself, Sophie Alcorn has grown Alcorn Immigration into an award-winning firm serving startups and Fortune 100 companies alike. As an author, host of the Sophie Alcorn Podcast, TechCrunch contributor, and Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, she has dedicated her legal practice to unlocking business opportunities in the U.S. for highly skilled founders, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
The Alcorn Method
Alcorn Immigration was voted a top law firm for tech startups for good reason. With the guidance of our immigration attorneys for startups, you can navigate the labyrinth of immigration laws effortlessly using our proven four-step method:
- Strategize. The right strategy is driven by the facts and rigorous analysis. By conducting an extensive review of your case, we will make you feel more confident in the process moving forward.
- Prepare. For all of our clients, a rigorous planning process is critical for ensuring success and driving future productivity in the U.S.
- File. The USCIS and State Department maintain strict filing instructions. We will assemble, organize, and file your case to avoid delays and disastrous pitfalls.
- Win. Through this approach, we help you put your best foot forward and maximize your chances of success.
Immigration Resources for Startups
At Alcorn Immigration, we bring you up-to-date, reliable, and thorough information to guide entrepreneurs and their key employees through the immigration process. Check out our immigration resources for startups:
- Ask SophieTM, as seen on TechCrunch
- Sophie Alcorn Podcast
- Order the Book
- Register for Events
- Alcorn Academy
Accomplish, Together
At Alcorn Immigration, our practice is fueled by creative thinking, an in-depth understanding of the immigration process, and expert knowledge of the law. To discuss your specific needs with an attorney, discover the right visa option for you, and begin accomplishing, together, consider connecting with a seasoned Alcorn immigration attorney for startups at (855) 546-0015 today.
