Visa Strategy & Compliance Lead
Gagan Bulia heads visa strategy and compliance at SaathiVisa, drawing on years spent decoding embassy procedures across more than 100 countries. He works on interview preparation, eligibility strategy, and the policy changes that quietly reshape what a successful application looks like — so applicants are never caught off guard.
Yes. One B-1/B-2 can cover a US board meeting plus personal travel, since 9 FAM lists board attendance as permitted B-1 activity. Refusals come from mismatched paperwork and US-source pay, so align the DS-160, both letters and LinkedIn first.
If your UK company already trades, Innovator Founder's new business test works against you. Global Talent via Tech Nation is usually the better route. The £50,000 entry investment went in 2023 and now appears only as one of seven settlement milestones.
Indian founders can pitch and negotiate with Singapore VCs on a business visit visa, since MOM exempts meetings with business partners. File the EntrePass after the round or accelerator letter exists, and carry invitations and an itinerary on every trip.
Most founders under five years in tech should apply under exceptional promise. Talent needs outside recognition of you personally as a leader. Talent gives UK settlement in 3 years, promise in 5, and Tech Nation says you cannot switch later.
Owning US property or a US LLC does not disqualify an Indian from a B-2. The officer asks whether the asset fits an Indian life or replaces it. A let flat, filed returns and a clean LRS trail read as wealth. An empty flat or LLC income reads as intent.
On a B-1 you can take a US conference's flight, hotel and meals at actual cost, but not a speaker fee. The 9-day honorarium rule covers only universities and nonprofit or government research bodies. Paid gigs across several US organisers point to an O-1.
A pre-revenue solo founder can get a B-1. The officer checks two things: that the trip is permitted business like investor meetings, and that you'll return. Confirmed third-party meetings prove the first. Indian company records, ITRs and travel history prove the second.
If you are in valid B-1 status and have not worked, change of status to O-1 is the faster path to a fixed start date. It gives you status but no visa, so any trip abroad means an O-1 interview in India. Need to travel soon? Book consular processing backwards from the date.
A former H-1B founder now living in India can get a B-1, but prior US residence cuts both ways. Clean departures help. A live lease, a spouse still there or an unexplained I-140 hurt. Time back in India and real Indian ties decide the interview.
A US citizen or green-card co-founder neither helps nor hurts your B-1/B-2 by itself. It helps when they run the US side and your work stays in India. It hurts when the company's centre, and your role, look like they are moving to America.
If the US buyer acquires your Indian company's shares and keeps it operating, an L-1A is usually the cleanest route. In an asset deal the L-1 dies, and an O-1A beats an H-1B for a founder in India, given the lottery and the USD 100,000 payment risk.
Yes, an Indian founder can attend YC or a similar accelerator on a B-1. Office hours, investor meetings and Demo Day are visitor activity. Writing production code, managing staff or taking a US salary is work, and that is where CBP draws the line.
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