New York Startup Venture Attorneys

Starting New Businesses in the United States

The United States offers ample economic opportunities and has hosted countless startups that have grown to become titans of their industries. You will need the appropriate visa if you wish to start a new business or expand an existing company’s operations into the country.

Our New York startup venture lawyers at J&K law can help you pursue visas that will allow you to build or expand a business in the United States. We can evaluate your goals and explore a wide range of visa options that can help you achieve them. Our team has over 20 years of combined legal experience and is committed to your success, which is why you will work directly with our attorneys throughout the visa application process.

L Visa Options for Startups

If you are part of an existing company located abroad that is looking to expand into the United States, you can leverage the L visa to send managers, executives, and employees with specialized knowledge to open and oversee a new office. This new office in the United States must have a formal relationship with the international company, meaning it must be a parent, affiliate, subsidiary, or branch.

Managers and executives qualify for the L-1A visa. Employees with specialized knowledge are eligible for the L-1B visa. To obtain L visas for purposes of opening a new office in the United States, you must provide evidence that demonstrates:

• Physical premises for the office have been secured
• The beneficiary or beneficiaries have been employed by the petitioning company for at least 1 year of the preceding 3 years
• The U.S.-based office will be able to “ramp up” to a state of conducting regular business within 1 year

L visas issued for purposes of opening a new office will initially be valid for a period of 1 year. Extensions of L visas can be granted if the new office meets the standards of “doing business” after 1 year.What constitutes meeting these standards will vary depending on the nature of the industry but will typically involve having a revenue stream, hiring new employees, and fulfilling contracts with other business entities. L-1A visas can generally be extended for up to 7 total years. L-1B visas can typically be extended for up to 5 total years.

Build a business in the United States with our help. Call (212) 390-1024 or contact us online to request an initial consultation.