GoElite Co-Hosts Immigration Strategy Panel for International Founders at SF Tech Week

The session attracted over 500 registrants and brought together a distinguished panel of attorneys, university advisors, and startup leaders to share actionable insights on how global talent can build long-term futures in the U.S. tech and innovation ecosystem.

Helping Global Talent Navigate the U.S. Visa Journey

This panel focused on the legal and strategic roadmap from F-1 student status to permanent residency. Key visa pathways covered included:

• H-1B (Skilled Worker Visa)
• O-1 (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability)
• L-1 (Intra-Company Transfer)
• EB-1 (Priority Workers)
• EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)

Featured Speakers

• Leandro Vittorio, Student Immigration Advisor, Stanford University
• Nicole Gunara, Principal Immigration Attorney, Manifest Law
• Shengyuan Lu, Developer of OPTimize & GenAI Infra, Meta
• Michael Serotte, Founder, Serotte Law; Immigration Counsel for Stanford StartX & GSB
• Host: Christina Chen, Head of Business Development, GoElite

Speakers encouraged attendees to view immigration not as a barrier but as a process that, with the right support, can open doors to long-term growth, startup investment, and innovation.

Why It Matters

As visa policies evolve and competition for global talent increases, international students and entrepreneurs face growing uncertainty in the U.S. immigration system. By providing accessible, high-quality legal guidance and a space for open discussion, this event helped demystify the path to residency for a new generation of global leaders.

GoElite remains committed to supporting international talent at every stage—from first-year students to founders navigating green card pathways. We’re proud to collaborate with partners across law, academia, and venture to offer students and professionals the knowledge they need to succeed.

If you’re interested in partnering with GoElite on future events or learning more about our services, contact us directly.