Immigration Options for Entrepreneurs: Video Presentation
Last week, Hurtubise Weber Law presented options for foreign entrepreneurs at an event hosted by the San Francisco Bay Area group Idea to IPO.
Immigration lawyer Isabelle Hurtubise spoke with an audience of entrepreneurs in various stages of company development, including the idea, formation, version 1 product, mature product, and existing foreign entity phases. Her talk focused on making sense of the immigration laws with
practical
explanations of available visa paths, requirements for the E, L, and O visas, and the pros and cons of the current options for foreign entrepreneurs here in the United States.
At least 12 countries were represented in the Q & A segment of the presentation.
To view the full presentation, please visit:
Immigration Options for Entrepreneurs and Employees / 10.01.15 / Hurtubise Weber Law / S.F. CA.
To schedule an evaluation with Isabelle by video conference or in person at our San Francisco or San Jose office, please contact us at TheTeam@huwelaw.com or 415-413-8760.
E-2 Investor Visas - Buying a Franchise is a Great Way to Go!
E-2 investor visas allow foreign nationals from certain countries to come to the United States to invest in and run a company. The major benefit of the E-2 is that the investment can be quite low, as long as it is enough to credibly start and run a business. The unofficial rule of thumb is a $100,000 investment, but investments as low as $40,000 may be appropriate for businesses that require little capital.
An E-2 visa is based on a treaty between the U.S. and the foreign national's country of nationality - so it is only available to investors from certain countries. It is a nonimmigrant visa and does not offer a direct path to a green card. However, it can be renewed indefinitely, and the spouse of an E-2 visa holder can obtain work authorization.
To find out which countries are eligible, go to:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/treaty-trader-investor-visa-e.html
Franchises are excellent investment candidates. The business model is already proven, and the required investment is laid out clearly in the franchise contract. In addition, frachises often have training programs, so the investor can show that they will have the skills to run the business.
E-2 visa applications are technical and complex and therefore require an attorney. If you are interested in finding out more about an E-2 visa, please contact us at TheTeam@huwelaw.com.
Visa Bulletin for October 2015 Released, New System Launched
The Department of State (DOS) has released the Visa Bulletin for October 2015.
This month's bulletin marks the beginning of a new system for notifying applicants of when they may apply for lawful permanent residency (a "green card").
DOS states that moving forward the bulletin will summarize not only "the availability of immigrant numbers for
'Application Final Action Dates' (consistent with prior Visa Bulletins)," but also "'Dates for Filing Applications,' indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center."
DOS notes that unless otherwise indicated in a specific bulletin, "individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the Department of Homeland Security must use the 'Application Final Action Dates' charts [] for determining when they can file such applications."
What does this new policy mean? It means that in the future an applicant
may
be able to apply for a green card earlier than expected. The new category of "Dates for Filing Applications" is therefore something to look out for in each monthly bulletin.
To see the full bulletin for October 2015, please visit:
Hurtubise Weber Law Trains Staff at the Valley Crisis Center in Merced California
Recently Hurtubise Weber Law paralegal Teri Picart was
asked to return to the Valley Crisis Center of Merced County (VCC) to provide training to new counselors at the Center. One year ago Teri gave a presentation to new staff regarding the U visa for victims of crime and
relief available for undocumented victims of domestic violence under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
:
Due to popular demand, she was asked back this year to present to a new group of staff members!
The VCC "
seeks to prevent domestic and sexual violence by advocating for positive changes in the societal systems that my lead to oppression, fostering a better understanding of domestic and sexual violence through community education, and providing culturally relevant direct services that empower victims of abuse and their children." You can read more about the Center's mission here:
http://www.valleycrisiscenter.org/
The U visa allows victims of qualifying criminal activity, including domestic violence, felonious assault, sexual assault, and stalking, who have suffered substantial physical and mental abuse and cooperated with authorities in the investigation of the crime, to apply for work authorization and permission to remain in the United States in the short term. The U visa is a path to permanent residency (a "green card") and citizenship.
For more information about the U visa and how it could help you or someone that you care about, please contact us at TheTeam@Huwelaw.com.
September 2015 Visa Bulletin Released
The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for September 2015.
There was forward movement in most employment-based and family-based visa categories. However, the employment-based second preference categories for mainland China and India retrogressed to January 1, 2006, from December 15, 2013, and October 1, 2008, respectively.
To view the complete Bulletin, visit:
For assistance with your immigration case, please contact us at TheTeam@Huwelaw.com.
