Business visa

[leli]

Dear guru,
I am so happy when I descover this site, thanks.
My question is, I am an american citizen and would like to open a restaurant in California, and have 2 Indonesians investors, what kind of visa do they need to obtain and what are the requirements. Any input would be much much appreciated.

[peace]

*Do they want a visit visa or do they want a permanent visa?
*What do they do in Indonesia?

[leli]

No they do not intend to stay in the State, they only going there to check the location and do the set up ect, and will let me do the rest. We will hire locals as workers. They both are sucessfull businessman, one of them is the owner of a growing restaurant (one branch every 5 months) and the other guy is the owner of drinking water company. The reason they want to open restaurant in the State is me and my family are going back to the State after 2 years living in Indonesia and they want me to run their business. I looked at the B1 visa, is that the best visa for what we want to do? what kind of preparations we need to do, the paperwork and all? And would it help if my husband or I go to the embassy to apply for the visa with them while we are still in the country?
thank you so very much for all the info...

[peace]

Yes, B1 is the visa for them.

I need more info about you;

*What is your background? In US and in Indonesia? Do you have any capital base in the US? Do you have any land /property in US for the restaurant?

*Are you also investing in your business or only those 2 are investing?

[leli]

Dear Peace.
I personally have restaurant background and was in business for 5 years before I moved to the US, in the US I worked for a cloting designer for 3 years. Honestly I don't have much capital only for a little saving, I was thinking of renting a space and have been doing research on that.
My husband and I will only run the business, no investment. So yes just those two guys will invest the money.

[peace]

Business visas for investment in your project may be difficult because you have not yet established yourself as an enterpreneur in US.

Since they are established enterpreneurs in Indonesia, they should apply with the objective of researching US to open a new branch there, without mentioning you. Once they get visas they can always invest with you no problems
They will have to show

*all paper work showing the extent of business in Indonesia; registration, brochure, balance sheets showing turnover, tax returns.

*email contacts with agencies in US who help in opening new business.
*a tentative plan ; which state they want to open, how many branches,
how much money are they investing.
*other documents as listed on US embassy website;

http://jakarta.usembassy.gov/consular/NIVBUSINESS.html

[leli]

Thanks for the clear information,
What kind of agencies in the US should they look for?

[peace]

There are a couple of websites to get you started;

http://www.entrepreneur.com/

and www.sba.gov

It would also be better if both of you first came to US, and talked in detail
with a GOOD immigration attorney . He will guide you on how to
prepare paper work for their B1 visa.

GOOD LUCK

[leli]

Thank you very much for all your advise!
Success to you...

[leli]

Dear Peace,

Would it be helpfull if we go to immigration attorney in Indonesia? or better find one in the US?

Thanks in advance

[peace]

Are there any US immigration attorneys in Indonesia?