If you are planning to acquire a manufacturing facility in the U.S., this raises several employment law issues. Understand the legal requirements to remain in…
Even if you are only employing a small team, you must abide by federal, state and local requirements governing your relationship with your employees. While…
When a foreign business imports products into the US, it will encounter the intricate rules of US Customs and Border Protection. As an importer, among…
While registration with the US Patent and Trademark Office is not necessary to establish trademark rights, it provides significant benefits and is strongly encouraged. To…
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States temporarily for tourism or business for 90 days…
International Entrepreneur (IE) parole program provides a viable means for foreign entrepreneurs to establish and develop their start-up entities in the US. Under the International…
For any new business looking to sponsor an employee for a temporary US visa, the following requirements must be in place before you begin the visa application process: (1) Corporate entity formation; (2) a corporate bank account for your entity; (3) a leased corporate office space; and (4) a business plan.
Travelers normally arrive in the US through:
-Business Visitor or Tourist Travel using ESTA or B-1
-ESTA, also known as “Visa Waiver,” allows for visa-free trips of up to 90 days.
-Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) – Temporary visas authorizing U.S. employment (H-1B, L-1), academic study or internships (F-1, J-1)
-Immigrant Visa (IV) – Leads to lawful permanent resident status, a.k.a., a “green card” (IR-1, EB-1).
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), who adjudicate most types of immigration petitions
U.S. Department of State (DOS), including the U.S. Embassy in Sweden
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), who are the immigration agents at the airport
A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, design or device, or combination thereof, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of another. Trademark categories: include
•Generic: common name for the kind of product- cannot be a trademark
•Descriptive: term that describes something about the product
•Suggestive: term that subtly suggests something about the product
•Arbitrary/Fanciful: term that bears little or not relationship to the product
H-1B visas are available to employees coming to the US to be employed in a “specialty occupation.” The US position generally requires a bachelor’s or higher degree (or its equivalent in employment experience) as the minimum entry level and the visa holder must also possess a bachelor’s degree in a related field. The visa is initially valid for up to three years, but extensions are available for an additional three years. Only 85,000 H-1B visas are available annually and are typically allocated by lottery in March each year.
A distribution agreement governs the relationship between a manufacturer and distributor. The arrangement calls for the manufacturer to sell finished products to the distributor and establishes all pricing and delivery terms. When preparing an agreement, it is important to understand how the relationship works and to incorporate key considerations for flexibility as your business grows.
(1) Owners are not liable for the debts, obligations and liabilities of the business; (2) Protect your personal assets and (3) Protect the assets of your parent company.
