From Pre-Seed to Green Card: How Startups Come, Stay, and Grow in the US
Most people think there are only two ways into the US: win the H-1B lottery or get a big company to sponsor you. Both leave you waiting on someone else's decision.
There's a whole stack of visas built for the people startups are made of — founders, operators, engineers, researchers. You can self-petition. You don't need an employer. And if you're scaling a team, there are clear paths to bring them with you.
In this session, Nicole Gunara, Immigration Attorney at Manifest Law, walks through what actually works in 2026:
O-1A, EB-1A, and EB-2 NIW — the self-petition stack for high-skilled talent
Bringing your team with you — what to file, in what order, and what it really costs
Evidence that moves the needle — citations, GitHub, funding, press, patents
The mistakes that cost 6–12 months — and how to avoid them
Nicole came to immigration law by way of securities regulation and business law which means she understands the legal and operational pressures that companies and founders are actually navigating. She's advised multinational corporations on building immigration programs from the ground up, handled consular matters across the globe, and prepared petitions across nearly every employment-based and extraordinary ability category. For founders and emerging companies especially, she brings a rare combination: deep immigration experience alongside a strong grasp of the business and legal context around it.
The back half is live Q&A — bring real case scenarios, evidence questions, and team-relocation timelines. No script.
Manifest Law is an award-winning immigration firm of 100+ attorneys. Powered by Manifest OS, they simplify and accelerate visa and green card processes. Founders trust them for O-1s, H-1Bs, E-2s, L-1s, and green cards because the outcomes speak for themselves: high approval rates and faster timelines.
Get a free consultation and $250 off your visa here: https://gomanifestlaw.com/nextplay-quiz