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Clarity

Matthew Meltzer

Greater Chicago Area

I am a full-time business immigration attorney, working as a Partner at Meltzer Hellrung. I am experienced working with immigrant entrepreneurs, having assisted numerous entrepreneurs obtain the necessary visas to start and run their companies in the US. I also advise companies handling all corporate immigration issues. I have worked with companies in a broad range of industries, including: information technology, consulting, manufacturing, hospitality, finance, healthcare, and academia.

You can view my linkedin profile here: www.linkedin.com/in/mmeltzer/

$6.67/min

102

102 Calls

35 Reviews

20 minutes
Avg. call

Entrepreneurship Employee Hiring Legal Services Legal Compliance Immigration

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Visas and Green Cards

Expertise in acquiring the appropriate visas and green cards for immigrant entrepreneurs and foreign national Employees

Immigration

Immigration law for entrepreneurs and companies. The procurement of visas and green cards for foreign national employees.

Answers 9
Reviews 35

Answers

Matthew Meltzer answered

Any advice on starting up small businesses in two countries at the same time?

Hello,

Starting up in two countries can yield great legal benefits from a U.S. immigration perspective. Locating in multiple countries can be very useful for moving founders and employees to the U.S. later on. There are particular visa types designed to facilitate the movement of transfers between branches of a company, as well as visa targeted at assisting the movement of employees of particular foreign nationalities if the US company is owned by a foreign company or foreign individual.

I would be happy to discuss the strengths of locating in particular countries and specific corporate structuring from a US immigration perspective.

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Lean startup

Business planning

Entrepreneurship

Matthew Meltzer answered

What is the most efficient and ethical way of a UK expat getting a visa in the U.S?

Hello,

I am a US immigration attorney focused on corporate immigration. The fastest way to get into the US (and stay here long term) as a UK national is to open your own business in the US. You would need to create your own business and sink your own money into creating the business. If you do so, you will be eligible to come to the US and run your business. You will be able to stay in the US for two year periods but the visa is renewable indefinitely. I

If you come to the US on an L-1 or other employment based visa you will be able to work on setting up another company but you will not be able to actually be employed by the company you have created.

If you are only interested in finding employment here, working for a company that could transfer to the US would work. Employers also can apply for an H-1 visa on April 1st for employment commencing on October 1st.

If you would like to talk about the process for starting your own business in the US, I would be happy to talk with you.

Regards,
Matt M

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Immigration

Matthew Meltzer answered

How can one file an EIN without an SSN/ITIN?

You should retain a lawyer, or another qualified individual, to act as the third party designee for the corporation (if you do not have a partner or co-owner who is a US citizen).
The designee should prepare Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) and Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) for the corporation’s president to sign and return.

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Legal Services

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Legal

Matthew Meltzer answered

Can i start a startup business in U.S if I'm not living in U.S and I'm also not an american citizen?

Absolutely. There is no residence requirement or immigration status required to legally start a company in the US. I have addressed this on my law firm's blog: http://www.meltzerhellrung.com/blog/can-foreign-students-and-other-immigrants-start-businesses-in-the-us/

In terms of getting to the US once you have decided to open your business, that would depend on a variety of factors. I recommend contacting me directly to discuss your situation further. I would be happy to discuss what immigration options you may have as an entrepreneur.

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Legal Research

Legal Advice

Start-ups

Matthew Meltzer answered

Where can I find independent corporate lawyers specialized in startups?

Lawtrades.com and Legalhero.com are great resources for entrepreneurs seeking legal counsel.

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Legal Advice

Legal Services

Corporate Law

Matthew Meltzer answered

How to legally work in the US?

There is no short answer to this question. The E and L visas could both be options. I would be happy to discuss your situation in greater detail with you to see what visa options make sense.

When running a US business with a B-1/B-2 visa, please be sure to spend as much time outside the US as inside. At some point you may be stopped at the airport and asked to explain why you are traveling to the US so frequently.

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Immigration

Matthew Meltzer answered

Can I run my already international business as a foreign student in the USA?

I am an immigration attorney and the answer to this question is complicated. You can own a US business but the questions about what you can do for that business while on your visa are not as easy to assess in generalities. I recommend a phone call to discuss your business in more detail.

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Immigration

Travel

Matthew Meltzer answered

What are the options for a Canadian independent contractor to work in the US?

You likely need to set up your own US company and pursue an E-2 visa to work in the US as an independent contractor. Please contact me to discuss your situation in more detail.

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Immigration

Matthew Meltzer answered

What are some tips for Canadian entrepreneurs looking to move to San Francisco?

Hello, you have many options as a Canadian entrepreneur moving to the US. If you are the major investor in your own company and own at least 50% of the company, you are eligible for an E-2 visa. If you already own a Canadian company and are opening a branch or subsidiary in the US you are eligible for an L-1 visa. If you are currently in the US as a student you may consider an H-1B visa. Regardless, of what option you choose you cannot just move to the US and start working. That said, you can make short trips to the US to set up your company without a visa, such as setting up bank accounts, signing legal documents, and agreeing to a lease.

Each of these visa options has its own timeline and various strengths and weaknesses. I am an immigration attorney in the US. I would be happy to discuss your options further with you on a call.

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Immigration

Entrepreneurship

Reviews

Matt's concise advice saved me thousands of dollars on my GC application and continues to be a trusted advisor to this day. Highly recommend!

Remo Kommnick Source: Clarity

Very informational call with clear communication!

Chunky Vazirani Source: Clarity

Excellent. Will be using him going forward when I can.

Josh MacDonald Source: Clarity

Matthew is amazing! He explained the H1B and GC process in very laymen terms. Thank you so much. Highly recommended!

Satish Gaire Source: Clarity

I had multiple calls with Matt, He is very informative & knowledgeable
I have recommended Matt to many people, Matt is a very good resource

Prabu Raja Source: Clarity

Great advice in a brief amount of time, thank you!

Ai Ching Source: Clarity

Matt is great. True expert advice that goes beyond facts to include strategy, and all is communicated clearly. Highly recommend.

Michael Alexis Source: Clarity

Amazing insights !

Quentin Gilon Source: Clarity

As usual it was a great call with Matthew. He gave me good suggestions after carefully reviewing my current visa situation.

Mohan K Source: Clarity

Extremely helpful. Really knows his stuff--had clear answers for every question I had and offered to followup with anything that seemed unclear to me. Thanks Matt.

Jordan Litvenenko Source: Clarity

Great initial call. Matt certainly knew his stuff and I was able to get the info I needed. I look forward to following up with Matt again very soon.

Trevor O'Hara Source: Clarity

Member since May 2013