For Founders
You built
something.
Now build it
in America.
The U.S. is where your investors are. Where your customers are. Where your next round gets done.
400+
Founders guided to the U.S.
96%
Approval rate*
6 wks
Avg. O-1A prep timeline
*Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
The Reality
The U.S. isn't a dream.
It's a decision.
Every founder we've worked with had the same thought: "I'm not sure if I qualify." Almost all of them did - they just didn't know how to see their own profile the way USCIS does.
Your press coverage, investor relationships, speaking engagements, and the companies you've built - all of it counts. The question isn't whether you qualify. It's which path gets you there fastest.
You don't need famous awards
The O-1A and EB-1A evaluate a pattern of recognition across 8-10 criteria. Being featured in TechCrunch, judging a hackathon, or leading a critical-role startup can all contribute.
You don't need an employer sponsor
Unlike H-1B, the O-1A and EB-1A give founders control over their own petition. No company needs to file on your behalf.
You don't need to wait for the lottery
H-1B is one option - and it's not the best one for most founders. O-1A has no cap, no lottery, and can be approved in 15 business days with premium processing.
Founder Profiles
Does this sound like you?
Every stage has a different best path. The right answer depends on your timeline, your current status, and what you've already built.
Pre-seed or seed stage
You have traction, a product, and a vision. You need to be closer to your investors, customers, and co-founders - most of whom are already in the U.S.
YC / accelerator alumni
You've been to the U.S. for Demo Day and realized that staying - not visiting - is what changes everything. Your network is already there.
Series A+ or revenue-generating
You're scaling. You have press coverage, customer logos, and a board. Your profile is stronger than you think - and the clock is ticking.
Investor or co-investor
You're deploying capital into a U.S. market. You need presence, credibility, and legal status to operate - not just visit.
Your destination
"The U.S. isn't just a market.
It's where the best founders build."
Not sure which profile fits you? We'll figure it out together.
Book a free 30-min call →Visa Options
Four paths. One is right
for your stage.
We don't push every founder toward the same visa. The right path depends on where you are now - and where you're going.
The fastest way in - if your achievements are documented.
Best for
Founders with press coverage, investor backing, speaking engagements, or a track record of building impactful companies.
Why founders choose this
No lottery. No employer sponsor. Decision in as little as 15 business days with premium processing.
Not ideal if
Your achievements are still early-stage or undocumented.
Timeline
6-8 wks prep + 15 days premium
Skip the visa cycle - go straight to a green card.
Best for
Founders with verifiable national or international recognition: major press, awards, significant funding rounds, or documented industry impact.
Why founders choose this
Self-petition, no employer required. Permanent residency without going through the H-1B lottery or waiting on a sponsor.
Not ideal if
You need U.S. authorization quickly - the timeline is longer than O-1A.
Timeline
6-10 wks prep + 2-6 mo. adjudication
Build your U.S. company from day one - legally.
Best for
Founders from treaty countries who are deploying capital into a U.S. entity and want to operate it directly.
Why founders choose this
No minimum investment threshold. Start operating immediately. Renewability makes it a strong bridge while planning for permanent residency.
Not ideal if
Permanent residency is your immediate goal - E-2 doesn't lead directly to a green card.
Timeline
4-6 wks prep
Transfer to your own U.S. entity - if you're already operating abroad.
Best for
Founders who have managed their company outside the U.S. for at least 1 year and want to transfer to a U.S. subsidiary or affiliate.
Why founders choose this
No extraordinary ability required. If your role was managerial or executive, you may qualify as an intracompany transferee - no lottery, no employer switch.
Not ideal if
You don't have an existing foreign entity, or your role wasn't managerial or executive in nature.
Timeline
4-6 wks prep + USCIS adjudication
Quick Comparison
If you just want the quick version -
here's how these paths compare at a glance.
Path
Speed
Control
Green Card
Best for
O-1A
Fast
Medium-High
Moving quickly, strong profile
EB-1A
Medium
High
Direct path to permanent residency
EB-2 NIW
Slow
High
Long-term, national impact
E-2
Fast
Medium
Investing in a U.S. business
L-1
Medium
Medium
Transferring from existing foreign entity
There's no single "best" visa - only the one that fits your situation, timing, and goals.
Not sure which option fits your situation?
Explore your options →Honest Assessment
When these paths may not be the right fit.
Some founders are simply too early or on a different trajectory. We check this for you - in your free call.
These options may not make sense if:
You don't yet have traction, recognition, or measurable impact
You're not ready to invest capital (relevant for E-2)
You're looking for a guaranteed green card immediately
Your situation requires a different long-term strategy
If none of these paths make sense - we'll tell you that.
Book a free call →Founder Stories
Founders who made the move.
“I'd been to YC Demo Day twice. Both times I flew home. I didn't know that staying was actually within reach with what I'd already built.”
Alex
Poland → San Francisco
B2B SaaS, Series A
Strong press coverage, VC backing from two U.S. funds, and three speaking invitations at major conferences. Approved without RFE.
Why this path
Speed and control - the lottery wasn't compatible with his fundraising timeline.
“My lawyer told me I wasn't ready for EB-1A. PassRight showed me I was - we just needed to frame the evidence differently.”
Mateus
Brazil → New York
Fintech, $3M ARR
Documented critical role, press in Bloomberg and TechCrunch, judging role at a major startup competition. Profile repositioned and approved.
Why this path
Green card was the goal and his profile was stronger than his previous attorney realized.
“I had the capital. I had the business plan. I just needed someone who understood both sides of the process.”
Lena
Germany → Austin
Hardware startup
Treaty country national with $220K deployed into U.S. entity. Business plan built around manufacturing partnerships and job creation.
Why this path
Lower capital requirement and faster processing - EB-5 would have taken years longer.
Why PassRight
Most firms treat founders like employees - because that's all they know. We've spent years inside the startup world. We know how you think, how you move, and what actually matters when you're building under pressure.
We're at the events you go to
YC Demo Days, TechCrunch Disrupt, SaaStr, Slush. We're not sending newsletters from a law office - we're in the rooms where founders make decisions.
We speak founder
You won't spend calls explaining what a cap table is or what Demo Day means. We know your world. Our conversations start where others end.
Speed is built into how we work
Founders don't have 6 months to wait. Our process is structured around your timeline - not the traditional model built for corporate HR teams.
We've seen your profile before
400+ founders guided. Pre-seed, YC-backed, Series A, bootstrapped. We know what works for each stage and what USCIS looks for in a founder case specifically.
Honest about what won't work
We'll tell you if your profile isn't ready - and what would change that. No false promises, no wasted retainers. Founders respect direct answers.
Your attorney stays on your case
No bait-and-switch to a junior associate. The attorney who reviews your profile is the attorney who builds your case - from first call to final approval.
“They didn't just know the law - they knew what it means to raise a seed round, miss a deadline because of a board meeting, and build something while everything is uncertain.”
Tomás
Founder, DevOps SaaS - São Paulo → San Francisco
O-1A approved in 5 weeks
The Process
6-8 weeks.
You barely notice it.
We've built the process specifically so it doesn't get in the way of running your company. Your attorney and case manager handle the heavy lifting - you spend roughly 4-6 hours total from start to filing.
Attorney-led from day one.
Not a paralegal. Not a template. Your case.
Free strategy call
We look at your profile, your company stage, and your timeline - and tell you honestly which paths make sense.
Attorney case review
Your attorney maps your achievements against criteria and defines the strategy before any documents are collected.
Evidence build
We guide you through collecting exactly what's needed - no random uploads, no over-documentation. Every item serves a purpose.
Filing & follow-through
Your petition is submitted. We stay with you through correspondence, RFEs, and all the way to approval.
Recommended Reading
Worth knowing.
Does Your Startup Profile Qualify for an O-1A?
Most founders underestimate what they've built. Here's how USCIS looks at press coverage, investor backing, and speaking roles - and what actually counts.
Read more →
EB-1AThe Self-Petition Green Card Founders Don't Know About
EB-1A lets you file for permanent residency without an employer or job offer. Here's what it takes and who it's realistic for.
Read more →
H-1B AlternativeLottery-Free: What Founders Do After H-1B Rejection
Twice rejected. Still in the U.S. How two lottery losses led one engineer-turned-founder to the right path - and what it looked like.
Read more →
StrategyVisa First vs. Strategy First: Why the Order Matters
Choosing a visa before understanding your options is one of the most common - and costly - mistakes founders make. Here's what to do instead.
Read more →
The move is possible
Your company belongs in America.
Let's make it happen.
Book a free 30-minute strategy call. We'll look at your profile, tell you which paths make sense, and give you an honest assessment - including if we think you're not ready yet.
No commitment. No sales pressure. Just a real conversation about your situation.
400+
Founders guided to the U.S.
96%
Approval rate*
6 wks
Avg. O-1A prep timeline
* Law firm results. Past outcomes do not guarantee future ones.