Have you heard about immigration laws that are like a fresh breath of air in a dark underground dungeon? Here is one such law- If you are a non-immigrant alien with extraordinary skills you cannot work for a different company apart from the one sponsoring your visa, but there is no law stopping you from establishing your own company.
This, however, was not always the case, if we were living in 2016 it would have been illegal! The U.S Department of State’s amended its Foreign Affairs Manual in September 2016, allowing a legal company owned by a non-immigrant alien on an O-1 visa to file for its owner’s petition.
What does this mean to you?
This means that although you are working for a company that has sponsored you, you can still realize your dream of being your own boss. Become the CEO of your own company, the person creating employment opportunities for others and a leader in your field. This would also mean that you would not have to depend on the company you are working for to apply for the O-1 visa, this would also mean you could work with any company willing to pay your company for your company’s services and you would not be legally bound to them.
You also will not have to worry about finding another company that is willing to sponsor your stay in the country.
What’s the catch?
There is no catch, unless if you think about it this way:
- You cannot work for your own company until the petition your company files is authorized
- You have no say in the decision-making process of your company.
- Your manager can fire you from your own company.
Apart from this, the process is pretty simple, get your business up and running and your own company can sponsor your visa.
If you are interested in applying for the O-1 Visa, contact us.
