SU2US | Startup to U.S.
THE FOUNDER’S DILEMMA
Is there a startup visa in the USA? Not officially. Here is what matters.
Most founders lose weeks searching for a “US startup visa” that was never created by Congress. The good news: you don’t need one. You need the right combination of existing visas, structured correctly the first time.
WHAT FOUNDERS FEAR
“There’s no visa for me, so I’m stuck.”
Endless forum threads, conflicting advice from four different lawyers, and the risk of overstaying a tourist visa while a funding window closes. The uncertainty is the real cost.
WHAT IS ACTUALLY TRUE
Founders relocate to the US every week.
UiPath, Brex and thousands of lesser-known startups did it. The tool is a purpose-built strategy across O-1, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, E-2 and L-1, matched to your background, ownership and timeline.
YOUR OPTIONS
The best visas for startup founders, decoded
These are the paths we use most for tech founders, investors and their key hires. Which one fits depends on your ownership, funding, background and how fast you need to move. That’s what the free assessment is for.
O-1A
Extraordinary ability
Best for most venture-backed founders
No lottery, no quota, no degree required. Prove standout achievement across 3 of 8 criteria: funding raised, top accelerators, press, patents, judging, key roles.
- You can self-sponsor through your own US company
- Fast with premium processing
- Renewable in 1-year increments
EB-1A
Green card, extraordinary ability
Best for permanent residency, no employer needed
The green card that mirrors O-1A but lets you self-petition directly. No PERM labor certification, no job offer, no board oversight structure required.
- Direct path to a green card
- You control your own petition
- Pairs naturally after an O-1A
EB-2 NIW
National interest waiver
Best for mission-driven and deep-tech founders
A green card that waives the job-offer and labor requirements when your work carries substantial merit and national importance to the US.
- Self-petition, no sponsor
- Strong fit for AI, climate, health, hard tech
- Works alongside a nonimmigrant visa
E-2
Treaty investor
Best for founders investing their own capital
For nationals of treaty countries who put substantial capital at risk in a US business and hold at least 50% or operational control. Renewable indefinitely while the company runs.
- Spouse gets automatic work authorization
- Fast to set up
- We confirm your treaty eligibility first
L-1A
Intracompany transfer
Best if you already run a company abroad
Move yourself as an executive or manager from your foreign company to a US parent, subsidiary or new office. Ideal alongside a Delaware flip.
- “New office” L-1A for young US entities
- Spouse gets automatic work authorization
- Clear executive path, extendable to 7 years
L-1B
Your key team
Best for relocating engineers and specialists
Your top talent doesn’t have to gamble on the H-1B lottery. We move specialized-knowledge engineers on L-1B and standout researchers on O-1A.
- Skip the annual H-1B cap
- Transfer core engineering from abroad
- Keep your distributed team together
Worried about the H-1B lottery or high entrepreneur H-1B fees? You have alternatives. For founders and senior technical hires, the O-1 and L categories usually beat H-1B on speed, certainty and cost. We’ll tell you honestly which one fits, in plain English.
WHY FOUNDERS CHOOSE INVENTIMM
Immigration counsel that speaks startup
Generic immigration firms try to force founders into templates built for corporate employees. We built our practice around how startups actually work: cap tables, SAFEs, accelerators and Delaware flips.
01
We make self-sponsorship work
Own most of your company? You can still be the beneficiary. We build the board governance and employment structure USCIS wants to see, without stripping away your control.
02
Flat fees, quoted upfront
No hourly meter, no surprise invoices. You get one clear price for the full petition, including responses to any Request for Evidence. You’ll know the cost before you commit.
03
Corporate flip plus visa, coordinated
Your US entity and your visa are one project, not two. We align the Delaware C-Corp structure, board and stock work with your petition so nothing derails your timeline.
04
Built for founder speed
Funding rounds don’t wait. We move on your schedule, use premium processing where it counts, and keep you updated at every milestone instead of leaving you guessing.
PRICING
Inventimm, PC
U.S. Immigration Legal Fees
One flat fee per case, agreed before we start. No hourly billing.
Responses to Requests for Evidence are included at no extra cost.
| SERVICE | FLAT LEGAL FEE |
| O-1A / O-1B – extraordinary ability work visa | $8,000 |
| EB-1A / EB-1B / EB-1C – green card | $10,000 |
| B-2 NIW – national interest waiver green card | $10,000 |
| E-2 – treaty investor visa | $8,000 |
| L-1A / L-1B – intracompany transfer | $8,000 |
| Other visas and green cards | Quoted on request |
INCLUDED
Strategy call and eligibility review · Evidence plan · Drafting of the petition, brief and all support letters · Exhibit assembly · Attorney review and filing · RFE and NOID responses · Replies within one business day
NOT INCLUDED
USCIS filing fees · Premium processing, currently $2,965 · Consular visa fees · Translations, credential evaluations and third-party expert fees
PAYMENT
50% on engagement, 50% on filing.
Volume pricing for companies filing three or more cases a year.
Google Reviews for Inventimm, PC
Behind every APPROVED notice is a story most people will never see. Our clients lived it. We were just glad to be in the room.
FAQ
US startup visa questions, answered
The questions founders search most, without the legalese.
There is no single official US startup visa. Instead, founders use existing categories: O-1A and EB-1A for extraordinary ability, EB-2 NIW for work in the national interest, E-2 for treaty investors, and L-1 for intracompany transfers. We help you choose and build the right one.
For most venture-backed tech founders, the O-1A is the strongest starting point: no lottery, no quota and no degree requirement. If you’re investing your own capital and hold a treaty passport, E-2 may fit better. If you already run a company abroad, L-1A can be ideal. The right answer depends on your specifics, which is what a free assessment clarifies.
Yes, with the right structure. USCIS does not allow a bare self-petition on the O-1, but your own US company can petition for you. We set up an independent board and employment agreement that meets the employer-employee requirement while you keep operational control. For a green card, EB-1A and EB-2 NIW let you self-petition directly.
Cost depends on the visa type, government filing fees and case complexity. What we can promise is transparency: we quote a flat legal fee upfront, before you commit, and it includes responses to any Request for Evidence. No hourly meter and no surprise invoices. Your free assessment includes a clear quote.
Timelines vary by category, but many founder petitions move quickly with premium processing, which puts USCIS on a 15-business-day clock for eligible cases. Building the evidence is usually the main variable. We give you a realistic timeline at the start and keep you updated at each milestone.
Often a US entity is part of the plan, and many founders complete a Delaware flip so a US parent owns their foreign company. We coordinate that corporate restructuring with your visa so the two reinforce each other and the tax treatment is handled correctly. If you don’t need a flip, we’ll say so.
Yes. The O-1A, EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are based on what you’ve achieved, not on formal education. Dropout and self-taught founders qualify regularly when the evidence is framed well. Forcing that background into an H-1B, which requires a degree, is usually the wrong move.
Look for a firm that understands startups, not just immigration: cap tables, funding rounds, accelerators and cross-border flips. Prefer transparent flat fees over hourly billing, and steer clear of anyone suggesting you keep extending a tourist visa to work in the US. INVENTIMM was built specifically for founder cases in tech.
Not sure if you qualify for O-1A, O-1B, EB-2 NIW or EB-1A?
Fill the form and get FREE ASSESSMENT from our attorney or book 20min. introducing consultation.


























