Harrem

Hello google group,

hope you ladies and gentlemen can give me some advice. I am a citizen
of the Netherlands, and have over the years specialized in starting up
new businesses and organizations. I have a masters degree in economics
from the University of Amsterdam. I am currently in the US for a three
month sabbatical, and recently encountered a person who would be
interested in starting a company with me as his advisor (this by the
way occurred by accident). We would start to work together soon, if all
can be arranged neatly. I will travel back to Amsterdam end of
December.

I have my own advisory firm in the Netherlands (hiring only
subcontractors such as lawyers and webdesigners, no staff), and am
associated to a larger advisory firm in my field. Normally, I send
invoices to my clients, on a project basis. Thus, I do not count hours,
but deliver a specific product such as a market research report or q
business plan.

I have been looking into options for a visa, under H1B, E1 Treaty
Trader, B1 and L, studying the USCIS, Border protection and state
department websites. Also made a phone call to a USCIS representative.
This is what I found:
- H1B seems a lengthy procedure, and possibly to much work for a
'fresh' client to enter into (??)
- L visa seem impossible, I understood after reading one of the threads
on this group; I would need to leave behind in the Netherlands a firm
employing five or more employees.
- Maybe E1 Treaty Trader is an option, if the service my company
provides is one eligible for the US government (substantial volume,
continuous?)
- B1 allows me to enter into negotations and consultations with my
client, which is what i do when speaking with him and prospective
partners of the business. The rest is research and development work,
done both here and in Europe. Possibly B1 allows my firm to send an
invoice for the work, and pay me from the payment received for the
advisory service I provide??

Possibly you have ideas and suggestions on these options which could
help me out. I am most grateful for any comments If you know a really
good attorney who can direct me through the trenches, you would also
help me enormously.

Cheers, thanks

Harrem

Bob

Sounds like you want a B1 visa, just as long as it is only advisory type work, not sure how the money end would work, you would need to be paid into your home country I would imagine.

Either way, www.aila.org that should help you find a decent immigration specialist, and be a start.

Harrem

Thanx for your kind reply. The money would thus be the only thing to
take good care of. I would be much obliged if anyone has suggestions to
solve that issue.

Harrem