Simon Bacon .

We have a small software company in the UK developing specialised CAD software for the
electronics industry. We are just about to register a subsidiary in California, from where
we expect to get most of the sales of our latest creation.

Since the software needs significant pre-sales and post-sales support, someone (i.e. me)
will have to live in Silicon Valley for a year or two as a Technical Sales Engineer.

I guess this means that our US subsidiary will have to apply for an L1 visa for me. We
want to get it right first time without wasting money.

- Should we use an Attorney or is the L1 application process really simple?

- Approximately how much would an attorney cost?

- Any recommended attorneys for this sort of work in Silicon Valley?

/Simon

My email address is 'Simon@tile dot demon dot co dot uk'

Ingo

:

>We have a small software company in the UK developing specialised CAD software for the
>electronics industry. We are just about to register a subsidiary in California, from
>where we expect to get most of the sales of our latest creation.
>
>Since the software needs significant pre-sales and post-sales support, someone (i.e. me)
>will have to live in Silicon Valley for a year or two as a Technical Sales Engineer.
>
>I guess this means that our US subsidiary will have to apply for an L1 visa for me. We
>want to get it right first time without wasting money.
>
>- Should we use an Attorney or is the L1 application process really simple?

Use an attorney. It's about as simple or difficult as an income tax return, but remember
that you'll have to learn the law from scratch.

>- Approximately how much would an attorney cost?

Expect $2000 or so.

>- Any recommended attorneys for this sort of work in Silicon Valley?

You don't need a local one. Immigration law is federal, so any attorney in the US can do
it. And you can do virtually everything by fax, phone and FedEx. So just find the best
attorney in the country and use his or her service. (wasn't that helpful or what? <grin>)

Ingo

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. For reliable advice, please consult with a
professional immigration attorney.

For further information, check the following frequently-requested links.

For many questions, you may find answers at http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html
(Department of State)

or http://ins.usdoj.gov (INS).

For consular policies and visa reciprocity fees, find your consulate in
http://travel.state.gov/links.html

For DOL Faxback status information: http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/

For information on affidavit of support for marriage to US citizens (I-864), go to
http://travel.state.gov/i864gen.html and http://travel.state.gov/checklist.html

For information on entering the US as a K-1: http://www.k1poelist.com/

For poverty levels, see http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/00poverty.htm

For information on H/L/O/P visa extensions at Dept. of State in St. Louis, MO, see
http://travel.state.gov/revals.html

For non-official information, check:

(When using these sites, and any Web sites, please watch out for privacy, as I do not know
all site operators.)

http://www.visalaw.com http://www.shusterman.com http://www.immigration.com
http://members.aol.com/MDUdall http://www.murthy.com/ http://www.getusavisa.com
http://greencard-lottery.virtualave.net/ http://www.jcvisa.com (H-1B)
http://www.h1bresources.com (marriage and fiancee) http://www.kamya.com/misc/ (marriage
and fiancee) http://www2.apex.net/users/thehydes http://www.formshome.com
http://www.workpermit.com

This is not an endorsement of any of these Web sites. I am not affiliated with any of the
Web site owners and do not receive nor accept payment in return for listing them, and
typically don't even know them.

(if believe you have a good immigration-related Web site and want your Web site listed
here, please e-mail me).

Andrew M. Wilson, Esq.

Dear Mr. Bacon,

While there are several options available to you to come to California and perform pre and
post sales service, it might make snse for the UK company to set up an office and sponsor
you for a start-up L. You may qualify for something much simpler as a B though, depending
on how long you'd like to stay in the U.S.

For more information on L-1's and B visas, please feel free to check out my firm's web
site at www.srs-usvisa.com

Regards,

Andrew M. Wilson, Esq. [email protected]

In article <[email protected]>,

> We have a small software company in the UK developing specialised CAD software for the
> electronics industry. We are just about to register a subsidiary in California, from
> where we expect to get most of the sales of our latest creation.
>
> Since the software needs significant pre-sales and post-sales support, someone (i.e. me)
> will have to live in Silicon Valley for a year or two as a Technical Sales Engineer.
>
> I guess this means that our US subsidiary will have to apply for an L1 visa for me. We
> want to get it right first time without wasting money.
>
> - Should we use an Attorney or is the L1 application process really simple?
>
> - Approximately how much would an attorney cost?
>
> - Any recommended attorneys for this sort of work in Silicon Valley?
>
> /Simon
>
> My email address is 'Simon@tile dot demon dot co dot uk'
>
>

--
Andrew M. Wilson--Immigration Attorney Serotte, Reich & Seipp, LLP
(716) 854-7525
(717) 854-0294 - fax [email protected]

anthony_barone_esq

We have a small software company in the UK developing
> specialised CAD software for the electronics industry. We are just about to register a
> subsidiary in California, from where we expect to get most of the sales of our latest
> creation.
>
> Since the software needs significant pre-sales and post-sales support, someone (i.e. me)
> will have to live in Silicon Valley for a year or two as a Technical Sales Engineer.
>
> I guess this means that our US subsidiary will have to apply for an L1 visa for me. We
> want to get it right first time without wasting money.

Mr. Bacon:

The start up US company will need proof of physical offices in the US along with proof of
business existence and relationship to the foreign company. Things like a lease and
Articles of Incorporation and stock certificates can accomplish that. The start up company
will only get you a one year L-1.

Tony Barone Immigration Attorney [email protected]
>
> - Should we use an Attorney or is the L1 application process really simple?
>
> - Approximately how much would an attorney cost?
>
> - Any recommended attorneys for this sort of work in Silicon Valley?
>
> /Simon
>
> My email address is 'Simon@tile dot demon dot co dot uk'