Dear Sophie

TechCrunch+ Roundup: YC Demo Days, blockchain’s killer app, comparing seed investors

Most startups never get past the pitch deck stage, so getting an investor to say yes can become a founder’s all-encompassing desire.

Ask Sophie: Any tips for F-1 student visa approval amid the rising denial rate?

I was accepted into a prestigious robotics engineering master's program in the U.S. but the denial rate for F-1 student visas is increasing. Why?

Ask Sophie: Can I launch a startup if I’m in the US on a student visa?

One day, my dream would be to create my own startup in the U.S. Is there any groundwork I am allowed to lay to make my dream come true?

Ask Sophie: How many employment green cards are available each year?

A reader asks for help determining how long their wait for a green card will be, how to parse the State Department’s Visa Bulletin and more.

Ask Sophie: How do we transfer H-1Bs and green cards to our startup?

Two of my colleagues and I were laid off, and we’re founding a company together. What do we need to do to transfer their H-1Bs and green cards to our startup?

Ask Sophie: What to do if selected/not selected in H-1B lottery?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services received enough electronic lottery registrations to max out the number of H-1Bs that can be allocated in the new fiscal year.

TechCrunch+ roundup: 20 questions VCs ask, crypto compliance tips, Indian investor survey

There are a ton of barriers to launching a startup, but impostor syndrome need not be one of them.

Ask Sophie: Which visas will allow us to expand our startup in the US?

We really need to be on the ground to interview our ideal users in the U.S. What visas will allow us to do that?

Dear Sophie: Last-minute H-1Bs, O-1A & EB-1A extraordinary credential prep

How many people are employers going to register in the H-1B lottery this year? Will there be fewer because of all of the layoffs?

Dear Sophie: What are my options for changing my status from an L-1 visa?

What are my options for changing my immigration status so I can work at a startup in the U.S. within a year or two?

Dear Sophie: Is there a domestic pilot program for H-1B and L visa stamping?

How long will it take to get an interview for an H-1B visa stamp? Am I eligible for a visa interview waiver? How do I get one? Can I do it from the U.S. this year?

TechCrunch+ roundup: M&A red flags, handling problematic CEOs, E-1 visa questions

Early-stage investors don't closely manage the founders they shower with cash, even when things go off the rails.

Dear Sophie: Do I qualify for an E-1 trader visa?

I'm from New Zealand and have a B2B SaaS company with many clients in the U.S. We don't currently have a U.S. office, but we pay our taxes there. Do I qualify for an E-1 trader visa?

TechCrunch+ roundup: Africa investor survey, biz model basics, video marketing tactics

If your marketing plan doesn’t include TikTok, YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels, well, can you really call it a marketing plan?

Dear Sophie: Will published articles better my odds of getting an O-1A or H-1B visa?

I’ve heard that articles in publications about an entrepreneur or a startup can be a big plus when applying for an O-1A or H-1B visa. Is that true?

TechCrunch+ roundup: SaaS pricing strategies, 2022 open source report, can Vine regrow?

Should Twitter’s developers rebuild Vine from scratch, or can they dust off the old code and turn it back on?

Dear Sophie: What H-1B and other immigration changes can we expect this year?

When will the visa application fee hikes come into effect? Are there any other immigration-related changes coming this year?

Dear Sophie: How do I change my L-1B to an H-1B through the lottery?

Can I change my L-1B visa to an H-1B with a different company? My understanding is that L visas are restricted to working only with the issuing company.

Dear Sophie: What are some fast options for hiring someone on an expiring grace period?

We're considering bringing on a co-founder on an H-1B with a grace period that will expire soon. What are our fastest, least risky options?

Dear Sophie: Any tips for presenting a strong H-1B case? What if I’m not selected?

My employer will sponsor me in the H-1B lottery in March. Can you share any tips for presenting a strong H-1B case if I’m selected? If I’m not selected, then what?
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