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Comment by yupstak | Hacker News Reader

Considering all the annoyance around the startup visa (myself included), this actually seems like a pretty sweet deal.

Are there any negatives that people might miss? Would love if someone could field a few questions...

Can you travel in and out of the US as often as you want while on this visa?

What would be the standard criteria for having the visa renewal approved? Would they need to see revenue growth? Would a stable stream of revenue be sufficient?

Can you start other companies while on this visa?

Can you invest in other companies on this visa?

If you have existing employees from non-treaty countries, can they come?

While on the visa, can you hire new employees from your home country and get them visas?

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> Can you travel in and out of the US as often as you want while on this visa?

Yes

> What would be the standard criteria for having the visa renewal approved? Would they need to see revenue growth? Would a stable stream of revenue be sufficient?

You provide them with a forecast and the idea is to meet the goals or show some progress on the project I guess (employees, paying taxes etc) - can tell you more in 2yrs :)

> Can you start other companies while on this visa?

Sure but the visa is connected to the company you made the investment in.

> Can you invest in other companies on this visa?

Think so, why not. If you invest in US companies as an individual the nationality does not really matter (e.g. we're raising under a convertible note from non-US investors).

> If you have existing employees from non-treaty countries, can they come?

Not sure but I guess you have to look for alternatives like H-1B.

> While on the visa, can you hire new employees from your home country and get them visas?

Not 100% sure but it should work; as far as I have heard the visa can be extended to other people employed in the company.

I appreciate the answers, this visa is looking very promising.

The only BIG Negative is : The investment has to be made by the people applying for the visa.

What does this mean? That Hans (in this case) needs to be investing his personal assets in order to get a E2?

As far as I know this is the case. In the end it is an 'investor' visa.

No investor money will do as long as you have > 50%. But it's only a valid option if you have already started your company in your home country and have had some funding and incorporated your company in the US.

If you move to the US and get funding from a US VC / Angle then I think it gets tricky because it says : At least 50% of the investors must be nationals of the treaty country.

Yeah that's really it. Still an improvement on the $1 million required for an EB-5 (although that gives you a green card).

It feels like there could be some workarounds here. They explicitly say the money can't be from a loan, so that idea is out.

But I've read of other techies getting an E2 for an investment just in the mid 5 figures range, so it mightn't need to go into the 6 figure range after all. Especially with a profitable software business where the profit margins are extremely high and the running costs are extremely low, I think they would lower the threshold.

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