Here is another edition of “Dear Sophie,” an advisory column that answers immigration-related questions about working at tech companies.
“Your questions are vital to the spread of knowledge allowing people around the world to push boundaries and follow their dreams,” said Sophie Alcorn, an immigration attorney in Silicon Valley. “Whether you’re working for an employee, a founder, or looking for a job in Silicon Valley, I love it. answer your question in my next column. “
TechCrunch+ members receive access to weekly “Dear Sophie” columns; use promo code ALCORN to buy a one or two year subscription with 50% off.
Dear Sophie,
I am a UX/UI designer in Europe working at a web3 company in the US.
I would like to resign my current position and move to the US to pursue a job that will allow me more autonomy, flexibility and the ability to take on multiple projects with different clients in the US.
How can I make that a reality? Thank you for your help!
—Worldly web3 Wonder
Dear,
I’ve long wondered if web3 would make immigration obsolete. Technology scales passively, enhancing and enhancing the human experience. I don’t think immigration is going anywhere anytime soon!
Let’s explore some of the US immigration options that will help you get the autonomy and job variety you crave!
A work visa allows you to self-employed…
Image credits: Joanna Buniak /Sophie Alcorn (Opens in a new window)
Most nonimmigrant work visas allow you to stay and work temporarily in the United States to be tied to a specific employer who sponsors you for the visa by offering you a job. and apply for a visa on your behalf.
Unless you can get a work permit, there is only one main type of visa that explicitly allows you to do freelance work – in other words, work with multiple companies – and that is the O-1 visa. With an O-1A, you will need to have a US agent act as your employer or represent multiple employers in order to sponsor you for the O-1. A colleague in your field can act as your US agent, but the petition must provide details about the relationship between you as the O-1 beneficiary and the US agent. Ky.
O-1 does not give you complete autonomy, but it will give you the freedom to choose from a wide range of projects in your field at different organisations.
