How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed to work in the US?

Re:How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed ... by amirmc on Friday August 27, 2010 @08:09AM (#1638557)

I suspect that while the non-US teams are at YC, some of them are technically 'tourists' (i.e just on holiday). They don't need a visa to enter the country so it's a case of hear-no-evil, see-no-evil.

If they decide to stay in the US after YC, then they have to deal with the nightmare of immigration and get themselves proper work permits.

For those who need a tourist visa to even enter the US, I have no idea.

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Re:How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed ... by wheels on Friday August 27, 2010 @08:53AM (#1638643)

"Seeking investment" is a valid reason to enter the US from visa waiver countries. My (German) co-founder used that when entering for YC and had no problems. It's also a perfectly reasonable simplification of what happens at YC.

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Re:How did non US citizen founders funded by YC get allowed ... by richardhenry on Friday August 27, 2010 @12:15PM (#1639220)

It's perfectly legal to enter the U.S. for business reasons, including meetings, conferences or even to raise funding. You're not allowed to become employed by a U.S. corporation, but you can certainly consult for them and do on-site work. I'm a Brit, and I've done all of the above several times under the VWP without border control even batting an eyelid.

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