Obtaining visa for a startup?

[hiphopopotamus 0]

Hi Everyone,

I did a quick search of the site and didn't see what I was looking for, so I will start a topic here.

I'm an American living in South Korea. Another American friend and I are developing an idea for a business we want to bring back to the United States in Summer 2013. With us is our South Korean business partner. The business is related to South Korean culture, so the two of us cannot imagine starting the business without her assistance from the beginning. (This will be a brand new startup).

Any suggestions as to what visa process would be best suited for this? How can we arrange for her to travel with us to the US and start up the business together?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks so much.

[Boiler 43,434]

How much will she be investing?

Does the job require a degree which she has?

[hiphopopotamus 0]

How much will she be investing?

Does the job require a degree which she has?

Her monetary input will be no more than $10,000. (not the minimum $50k I know some visas would like) and her degree is in an unrelated field (possibly disqualifying her for the H1B visa).

I guess I'm looking to see if I can appeal to the proper authorities that I NEED my Korean business partner to open my Korean-related food business.

[Boiler 43,434]

I can not think of any that would only require $50k.

There is a large US resident Korean population..

I can not think of any that would only require $50k.

There is a large US resident Korean population..

I can not think of any that would only require $50k.

There is a large US resident Korean population..

[Anh map 2,098]

Her monetary input will be no more than $10,000. (not the minimum $50k I know some visas would like) and her degree is in an unrelated field (possibly disqualifying her for the H1B visa).

I guess I'm looking to see if I can appeal to the proper authorities that I NEED my Korean business partner to open my Korean-related food business.

But you don't need to operate your biz from the US, so there really is nothing to appeal. Plenty of folks in the US with Korean heritage.

Do your research on investor visas. That or find your biz partner a USC bride or groom.

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

There is no visa that would suit. On a B1/2 she could attend business meetings, but could not work.

Your best bet is to find a Korean US citizen to help in the USA, and have your friend advice from Korea visa email, Skype etc.

[kzielu 1,147]

Her monetary input will be no more than $10,000. (not the minimum $50k I know some visas would like) and her degree is in an unrelated field (possibly disqualifying her for the H1B visa).

What others said + you have the number wrong - it is $500k, not $50k...

[Harsh_77 716]

What others said + you have the number wrong - it is $500k, not $50k...

+1

if it was $50k half of the world would be here by investing $50K.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Ditto! Video Conference is helpful for overseas biz and management.

[Noah Lot 387]

Ditto! Video Conference is helpful for overseas biz and management.

there is no reason that this person MUST accompany you to start a business with relative peanuts for an investment...there are no shortage of Korean nationals living in the US who have more than a basic knowledge of a restaurant type business.

[hiphopopotamus 0]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Yeah, my number should have been $500,000, not $50k. Whoops.

I'm gonna keep looking. I was mostly curious of any loopholes specific to startup businesses. All of your points make great sense and it looks like I will have to keep searching around. Fortunately, this isn't something that will happen until Summer 2013, so I'd like to think there's still plenty of time.

Thanks again for helping me.

[Boiler 43,434]

If there was a loop hole it would be very widely known.

I was thinking of an E2, but still looking at $150k or so.