A bill for Comprehensive Immigration reform “The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act” was released two weeks ago.  The bill specifically addresses provisions for the Startup Act that many of us have been waiting for.  Named the “Invest Visa”, the provision seeks to provide visas for immigrant entrepreneurs starting companies in the US. If you feel stuck on your H1b, F1 or other visa but are desperate to have your own startup, the Invest Visa (Startup Visa Act) will create that path for you. 

Please come and learn about the provisions, discuss the details and make suggestions to improve the provisions so that YOU can benefit from it.  We hope to have some subject-matter experts join us to discuss the bill too. Here are some links:

1. Summary of provisions:  http://watsonimmigration.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/startup-visa-provisions-under-comprehensive-immigration-reform-bill-2013/ 

2. Analysis: http://watsonimmigration.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/invest-visa-startup-visa-provisions-here-comes-the-analysis/ 

 This is a very exciting time in immigration law and for high-skilled immigrants.  Please come and participate in a discussion that could potentially shape these provisions! Your input is crucial!

Monday May 13, 2013. Networking starts at 5:30, workshop from 6:00 to 7:30 PST.

You can join us on Google Hangout if you cannot join in person! 

Workshop fee is $10:00 for non-Eastside Incubator members.

 We will look forward to seeing you there. 

REGISTER

[EVR_SINGLE event_id=”7″]

Our workshop equity compensation basics was on February 11, 2013 at Eastside Incubator in Redmond, our regular venue.  We had a full house with 40 people in attendance.  The following topics were discussed:

• What is the difference between founder restricted stock and employee stock options?
• Why is it so important to issue founder restricted stock as early as possible?
• How much company stock should be reserved for stock options?
• Why do companies that give equity compensation need to understand IRS Rule 409A?
• Can LLCs grant stock options?

December’s monthly STL Workshop was on Startup “Legal War Stories”.  STL’s four presenters led a lively discussion, each presenting one startup case were painful problems could have been avoided by doing it right in the first place.  (Cases were appropriately anonymized.)     

Subject areas covered:

• Carter Mackley — entity formation and equity compensation
• Ashley Long — intellectual property protection
• Deniz Kiral — tax
• Tahmina Watson — immigration

H1b and the Startup

Held on January 14, 2013, 5:30-8pm.

Tahmina Watson presented on the fundamentals of an H1b visa petition, as well as H1b for the consultancy company and the self-employed entrepreneur at our workshop titled “H1b and the Start-Up.”  

Issues covered:

1. H1b basic requirements and time frames.

2. H1b general documentation.

3. H1b for the employer

4. H1b and how it applies to a Start-up company owner

5. H1b for the consulting company.

and other related issues.

With the H1b season about start, this will be important for anyone thinking about filing an H1b on April 1st 2013, whether you are a Start-up founder thinking of an H1b for yourself, or if you are an owner looking to employ people on an H1b visa, or if you are an employee needing to understand more about the H1b process.

For follow-up questions email Tahmina at [email protected].

This workshop, held on June 7, was well-attended.  If you were there and have follow-up questions, feel free to post in the comments section.

This workshop is for entrepreneurs who are thinking about forming a start-up, or have recently started a business, and want greater insight on how to avoid the typical legal problems encountered by new businesses.  Four professionals – a securities lawyer, an intellectual property (IP) lawyer, an immigration lawyer, and an international tax CPA – will discuss the most important legal issues to consider in the early stages of your business.  Their presentations will provide information on how to protect your intellectual property rights, avoid tax surprises, handle immigration issues and ensure a smooth growth and exit.

Our Top 10 Legal Missteps List:

1. Not forming a business entity.
2. Choosing the wrong entity type.
3. Not protecting your IP assets.
4. Mismanaging your IP assets.
5. Misunderstanding visa options when you start your own company.
6. Mishandling employee arrangements and tax matters outside of the U.S.
7. Operating with fuzzy founder or employment agreements (or, lack of agreements!).
8. Failing to correctly compensate employees/founders/partners (e.g. stock options, salaries for S-Corp owners, retirement plans, and more).
9. Ignoring your books.
10. DIY lawyering/accounting/etc!