--- title: H-1B Visas for Entrepreneurs-A New Take on the Traditional H1-B Visa | Pollak PLLC description: See how H-1B prevailing wages are set, how the four wage levels work, and what recent rule proposals mean for employers planning salaries and filings. image: https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/prevailing%20wages%20for%20h1b.jpg --- [ info@pollakimmigration.com](mailto:info@pollakimmigration.com)[ 954-250-8335](tel:954-250-8335) [BOOK YOUR MEETING ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/contact-us/) ![prevailing wages for h1b](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/prevailing%20wages%20for%20h1b.jpg) # H-1B Visas for Entrepreneurs-A New Take on the Traditional H1-B Visa ![prevailing wages for h1b](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/prevailing%20wages%20for%20h1b.jpg) Posted by [ Pollak PLLC ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/author/pollak-pllc) December 2, 2025 Are you a laid off H-1B worker looking for other options? Have you ever dreamed of owning your own Company in the U.S.? If yes, to either, keep reading.  Many are surprised to learn that the [H-1B visa ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/h1b-visa) can work for entrepreneurs, even those who own more than 50% of the business and/or have majority voting rights of the company. But success depends on how well the petition is structured.  Key ingredients of a strong “Beneficiary Owner” H-1B:  - Real governance: A fully formed C Corp with a tax ID and a board with authority to hire/fire the Beneficiary Owner.  - Specialty occupation role: Technical, analytical, or otherwise highly specialized duties must be performed the majority of the time, even with a C-Suite title.  - Financial viability: Evidence the startup can pay the required wage such as VC funding, revenue, MSA’s/statements of work, or credible financial projections.  - Clear need for expertise: Product roadmaps, tech plans, patents, or data demonstrating why the Beneficiary Owner is essential to the business.  For early-stage companies, this visa can be a powerful bridge: 3 years of stability (18 months for initial filing and one 18-month extension ***additional extension may apply*), and flexibility as the company scales.  Things to also consider:  - Beneficiary Owners are subject to the H-1B lottery unless the business is cap exempt or affiliated with a cap exempt organization.  - Beneficiary Owners must be paid the local prevailing wage for startup founders (typically high) as determined by the DOL for executive roles.  - Can be used for “concurrent” employment, which allows Beneficiary Owners to have a regular job while also engaging in entrepreneurial activities.  - C Corp must have been formed within the past 5 years.  - An additional extension *can* be granted after the second 18-month period in three-year increments for a maximum of 6 years unless eligible for an extension beyond the 6-year limit like other H-1B workers.  - Cannot pursue the PERM route for a green card, but other Green Card options may apply such as an NIW or EB-1A.    If you’re a founder exploring U.S. immigration options, or a recently laid off H-1B worker looking to make a fresh start, the H-1B Beneficiary Owner option might be more accessible than you think.  If you want support in creative strategies that accounts for a recent lay-off, you can contact Pollak PLLC to [schedule a consultation](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/contact-us) and review your options. Tags: - [Visas](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/topic/visas) - [Employment-Based Immigration](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/topic/employment-based-immigration) [ Share on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/h-1b-visas-for-entrepreneurs-a-new-take-on-the-traditional-h1-b-visa) [Share on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/h-1b-visas-for-entrepreneurs-a-new-take-on-the-traditional-h1-b-visa&text=H-1B%20Visas%20for%20Entrepreneurs-A%20New%20Take%20on%20the%20Traditional%20H1-B%20Visa%20|%20Pollak%20PLLC) [ Share on Linkedin ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/h-1b-visas-for-entrepreneurs-a-new-take-on-the-traditional-h1-b-visa&title=H-1B%20Visas%20for%20Entrepreneurs-A%20New%20Take%20on%20the%20Traditional%20H1-B%20Visa%20|%20Pollak%20PLLC) ## Related Posts ![Proposed Increases to H-1B Prevailing Wages: Timeframes, Levels, and What To Do Next](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/prevailing%20wages%20for%20h1b.jpg) December 1, 2025 ### Proposed Increases to H-1B Prevailing Wages: Timeframes, Levels, and What To Do Next For H-1B employers and workers, prevailing wage is the minimum required wage for a role in a specific location based on government wage data. It is usually tied to Occupational Emp... [ Read More ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/new-proposed-h1b-prevailing-wage-increases) ![The Differences Between the H-1B Visa and H-2B Visa](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/The%20Differences%20Between%20the%20H-1B%20Visa%20and%20H-2B%20Visa.jpg) October 10, 2017 ### The Differences Between the H-1B Visa and H-2B Visa For individuals hoping to work in the United States, understanding the difference between employment-based visa categories is essential. Employers, too, must carefully determine wh... [ Read More ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/differences-between-the-h1b-visa-and-h2b-visa) ![Trump on H-1B | Trump's $100,000 H-1B Fee: What It Means for U.S. Employers and Foreign Talent](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/trump%20on%20h1b.jpg) November 12, 2025 ### Trump on H-1B | Trump's $100,000 H-1B Fee: What It Means for U.S. Employers and Foreign Talent On Sept. 19, 2025, President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation requiring a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B cases, effective Sept. 21, 2025. The H-1B program has long s... [ Read More ](https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/trump-on-h1b-the-100k-fee-and-other-updates-on-the-program) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Pollak PLLC", "url" : "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/author/pollak-pllc" }, "dateModified" : "2025-12-02T01:55:36.772Z", "datePublished" : "2025-12-02T01:55:36.000Z", "headline" : "H-1B Visas for Entrepreneurs-A New Take on the Traditional H1-B Visa | Pollak PLLC", "image" : [ "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/prevailing%20wages%20for%20h1b.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/blog/h-1b-visas-for-entrepreneurs-a-new-take-on-the-traditional-h1-b-visa", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "//www.pollakimmigration.com/hubfs/Pollack-2017/Image/Pollack-orange-logo.png" }, "name" : "Pollak PLLC" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "LegalService", "department" : [ { "@type" : "LegalService", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Addison", "addressRegion" : "TX", "postalCode" : "75001", "streetAddress" : "5057 Keller Springs Rd, Suite 300" }, "email" : "info@pollakimmigration.com", "hasMap" : "https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pollak+PLLC/@32.958844,-96.8230226,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x864e993b29f864ef:0x4b23f3951a7aaedd!8m2!3d32.958844!4d-96.8230226!16s%2Fg%2F11c7_xxcf1?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D", "name" : "Pollak PLLC - Addison Office", "telephone" : "+1-214-307-5510", "url" : "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/areas-we-serve/dallas" }, { "@type" : "LegalService", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Fort Lauderdale", "addressRegion" : "FL", "postalCode" : "33304", "streetAddress" : "2598 E Sunrise Blvd, Suite #2104" }, "email" : "info@pollakimmigration.com", "hasMap" : "https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pollak+PLLC/@26.1373128,-80.1111488,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x88d9015e5c8534cb:0x87dca60227fd9933!8m2!3d26.1373128!4d-80.1111488!16s%2Fg%2F11y7d84z5g?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D", "name" : "Pollak PLLC - Fort Lauderdale Office", "telephone" : "+1-214-307-5510", "url" : "https://www.pollakimmigration.com/areas-we-serve/fort-lauderdale" } ], "description" : "Pollak PLLC is a trusted immigration law firm with over 100 five-star reviews, serving business owners, executives, investors, and professionals seeking employment- and investment-based immigration solutions. 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