Ask HN: Transition to full-time while on H1B?

1 points by jbbae 7y ago ↗ HN

I'm a solo-founder who's been working on an idea (optimize career-building for students & professionals, wherever they are) for quite some time, while in a demanding full-time job to maintain my H1B status (mainly to stay close to my target market).

However, It's been challenging keeping up the pace with the limited time & mental stamina, while being short-handed (this is having already sacrificed 95% of social life). What are the best avenues for someone in my situation? Even if you get in a top accelerator, I'm wondering how that "support by connecting with immigration lawyers & similar founders" has manifested?

2 comments

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kjksf 7y ago ↗

You should confirm with immigration lawyer but you can't work for yourself on h1b Visa so you really have no (legal) options.

All you can do is work on the side and lay a foundation for your future business.

But legally speaking you have to wait until you have a green card before you can quit your job and start your own comapany in US.

jbbae 7y ago ↗

Thanks! That makes sense - and it's what I've been doing thus far (prove product-market fit and everything else will solve itself), but wanted to get a better sense of how that usually works out.

Specifically, I was wondering if there were avenues available if you're able to secure funding (i.e. At the end of an accelerator), not necessarily in the form of an H1B.