One of my two co-founders is Canadian. He has just been "visiting" very frequently, but it's a constant concern. What is the best way to start the process of trying to get him here to the US, legally?

We have already raised some VC money from US-based investors (not sure if that helps at all).

Thanks!

This is a good question. I work for a US company and travel down to good old Santa Clara county now and again (in non-pandemic times). I have a TN but it is a massive pain to re-apply when it expires. Is there some other way? I'm only down there for a few days at a time, maybe three or four times a year.

Does he qualify for a TN visa?

You must be an employee for the TN visa. As a founder, he would not qualify.

This is a bit more nuanced. There's no flat prohibition against founders and owners getting TNs.

John...wow. Thank you.

Responses like this, from people like you, who have been in similarly difficult positions are what make the HN community so powerful.

I'm sorry to hear that your first marriage didn't work out, but if it's any consolation, sharing this message and your story has the power to do a tremendous amount of good for people. It already has for me.

In my opinion, I don't think there is enough discourse on this topic amongst the startup community. Just as mental health was 10 years ago, I think this difficulty in balancing personal relationships vs startups is something that bubbles very close the surface for many founders, but is seldom talked about outside of closed circles (if at all).

Regarding your comments specifically, basically everything you said hit home for me. In particular, your point about including her in decision making and treating her like a partner is really excellent. I think that that is a big part of what I have been missing up to this point. I tell her she is my partner and try to treat her us such, but then make business decisions independently of her, which I thought was the right thing to do, but in fact it likely actually undermines and corrodes her feelings of partnership.

Thanks again. I think what you just shared with me above would make for a great essay that many others could benefit from. I worry the wisdom you've shared here will be lost to the depth of HN, never to be seen by those (like me) who need it.

- Alan

I'm so glad that my meager words were of help to you.

I agree, this is an issue that we don't talk about nearly enough. I think this is a very common problem, and hearing other people's experiences handling it, both the good and the bad, can help everybody.