Right here’s one other version of “Ask Sophie,” the recommendation column that solutions immigration-related questions on working at know-how firms.
“Your questions are very important to the unfold of information that enables folks everywhere in the world to rise above borders and pursue their desires,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration legal professional. “Whether or not you’re in folks ops, a founder or searching for a job in Silicon Valley, I’d like to reply your questions in my subsequent column.”
TechCrunch+ members obtain entry to weekly “Ask Sophie” columns; use promo code ALCORN to buy a one- or two-year subscription for 50% off.
Pricey Sophie,
I simply discovered that I’ve been accepted to an American college, which was my first selection!
Sooner or later, my dream can be to create my very own startup within the U.S. Is there any groundwork I’m allowed to put to make my dream come true?
— Ahead-Wanting Founder
Pricey Ahead-Wanting,
Congratulations on beginning your U.S. journey to make your desires come true! America wants entrepreneurs such as you who’ve the grit, willpower, and modern imaginative and prescient to create applied sciences that enhance our world!
I wish to launch my very own startup within the U.S. If if I’ve a scholar visa, what groundwork am I allowed to put to make my dream come true?
Nevertheless, a phrase of warning: the F-1 scholar visa is just for people who don’t intend to completely immigrate to the US. I’ll share extra particulars beneath.
Following by together with your research and graduating will set the stage so that you can get an employment authorization doc (work allow) so you possibly can embark on fulfilling your dream. Let me begin initially and discuss in regards to the F-1 scholar visa.
F-1 visa
The F-1 scholar visa is a non-immigrant visa that lets you research in the US at a SEVP-certified college and provides essentially the most choices to work each earlier than you graduate and after. For a non-immigrant visa, you should show to immigration officers—at visa interviews and while you enter the U.S. on the airport or different port of entry—that you simply intend to ultimately return to your own home nation. Should you categorical immigrant intent (the intention of remaining within the U.S. completely), you could be denied an F-1 visa or entry into the U.S.
As a global scholar, you—neither the college admissions workplace nor the worldwide scholar workplace nor the college’s Designated Scholar Officer (DSO)—are answerable for your sustaining authorized standing. Villalobos strongly recommends attending your college’s orientation for worldwide college students and staying in shut contact with the DSO at your college. A DSO might want to log off in your work authorization underneath OPT and STEM OPT.
Picture Credit: Joanna Buniak / Sophie Alcorn (opens in a brand new window)
Getting sensible coaching
As a full-time F-1 scholar, you can not work within the U.S. with out correct work authorization. Should you do, you threat extreme penalties, together with denial of future immigration advantages and even removing proceedings.
OPT lets you get a correct work authorization (an Employment Authorization Doc, also called a piece allow) to achieve sensible work expertise in your subject of research. College students are eligible for as much as 12 months of full-time work underneath OPT both earlier than they graduate (pre-completion OPT) or after they graduate (post-completion OPT).
