Rent for code

Foreign technical talent is in a catch-22 situation where it’s difficult to vet their adaptability in the valley’s culture without a small project and real on-site interaction, and such activities would regularly constitute “work” in USCIS-speak.

People can always fly in, but hacking for an US entity, even for free, can put people on a B1 Business Visitor status in trouble. So, be prepared to go through a lengthy H, L, O, or P visa process, and good luck if the person is a high school / college drop-out.

IANAL; I hold a Taiwan passport and shuttle between SFO / YVR.

#rant