In this episode of Immigration Law for Tech Startups, I’ll be discussing every startup’s dream problem: Figuring out how to quickly and strategically scale up after raising $5 million to $20 million in a Series A round!
- Before I delve in, I want to solicit your suggestions for harnessing the power of Clubhouse, an invitation-only audio-chat social networking app, which I recently joined. I’m @Sophie-Alcorn. I’m considering offering drop-in immigration office hours or panels on immigration topics, such as the H-1B lottery or how a founder can move to the U.S. Please send me your suggestions on Clubhouse or by using the email or social media contacts above or below.Now, let’s get back to that $20 million dollars! We’ve been contacted by several clients lately whose startups have completed a Series A round and find themselves with an 18-month runway and the need to hire 20 to 100 engineers ASAP or within a certain time frame to achieve hockey-stick growth. And if you aspire to be in this position, know that it’s possible! Listen in for more details and examples of the work visa categories that offer the quickest options for attracting international talent to help you grow your startup. And be sure to check out the resources below.Anything we can do to help individuals make a better life here in the U.S. and follow their passion will benefit all of us. Please share this episode with recruiters, HR and people ops personnel, investors, companies, startup founders, or anyone who can benefit from it. Reach out to us if we can help you determine your company’s best immigration strategy or your best immigration options whether you’re in the U.S. or abroad.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- Why immigration is a secret weapon for winning top talent
- Work authorization, immigration status, and internal I-9 audits
- Topics the management team and investors should discuss
- Using immigration as a benefit
- Creating an immigration policy
- Jobs easily filled by American workers and those that are not
- The type of visa holders currently in the U.S. that can start working with a new employer in three to six weeks
- The unique benefits of sponsoring an H-1B transfer
- The visa categories that are difficult to transfer to a new employer
- Which visa categories are relatively quick and easy to obtain for individuals living outside the U.S.
- Hiring F-1 students on OPT or STEM OPT and sponsoring them in the H-1B lottery in March
Don’t miss my upcoming conversations with top Silicon Valley venture capitalists, startup founders, professors, futurists, and thought leaders on Immigration Law for Tech Startups. Subscribe to the podcast here or whatever your favorite platform is. As always, we welcome your rating and review. We appreciate your feedback!
Resources:
Alcorn Immigration Law publications and courses
- “What everyone at a startup needs to know about immigration”
- Immigration Cheat Sheet for Recruiters
- Immigration Options Chart
- All About H-1Bs
- Immigration Law for Tech Startups eBook
- Extraordinary Ability Bootcamp course for best practices for securing the O-1A visa, EB-1A green card, or the EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) green card—the top options for startup founders. Use promotion code ILTS for 20% off the enrollment fee.
Immigration Law for Tech Startups podcast
- Episode 39: Startup Law with Attorney Lindsey Mignano
- Episode XX: 11 Tips for Companies to Support Valued Humans
- Episode 12: The Visa Options All Recruiters Should Know
- Episode 31: H-1B Nitty Gritty #2: H-1B Transfer for Startup Founders
- Episode 46: Get Ready for H-1B FY2022 Lottery
- Episode 11: Your Startup’s First H-1
- Episode 9: What Makes a Strong H-1B Petition
TechCrunch columns
“Dear Sophie: How can we sponsor H-1B transfers and extensions?”