Batch allows you get introduced to multiple startup jobs in Silicon Valley with one single application. 

The great education system fosters innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset in students. Students in Nordic countries have commonly gained work experience in their own field, often abroad or in a very international setting. Startuplifers alone has sent over 250 talented people from Finland and Sweden abroad. Silicon Valley companies know the benefits of hiring Nordic talent (if not, don’t be shy to highlight the benefits mentioned above) and they are happy to hire more!

Tech, design, and business students and recent graduates from Finnish or Swedish universities or universities of applied sciences. You must be pursuing or have pursued a degree from these institutions (i.e., no exchange studies). In addition, you should have 1-2 years of work experience in your field.If you are uncertain whether your university qualifies, please reach out to us 🙂 

1. Apply with one application (application period for the spring 23 Batch: 14.2 – 7.3)

2. Once you are accepted, connect with other participants and join our workshops. Bring you CV to the next level and boost your networks! 

3. During the batch-match we pitch your profiles to the startups. They proceed with the selection of the candidates that will continue the interview process further.

4. Rock the interviews and land a job. 

5. Startuplifers handles your visa and flights and helps you with relocation to the US. In addition, we connect you with fellow lifers and our community in the Bay Area.

6. Get ready for an experience of a lifetime!

The rough estimate is 2,5 months. It can be more, it can be less.
There are 3 steps to the process, and their timelines do not overlap:

1. Preparing the J-1 documentation and training plan, in conjunction with the J-1 host company. This will take a few weeks.

2. The DS-2019 (which is needed for the J-1 visa appointment). This takes up to one month.

3. The J-1 visa application appointment in the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki. You can check the estimated wait times here.

• The visa we are able to facilitate for on-demand as well as all other positions we recruit for is the J-1 visa. This will be valid for 12-18 months, depending on your student status and work experience:
  
  1) INTERNSHIP (INT) type; max 12 months (+ max.  2 months grace period) – for this category, the applicant should be:

• a university student OR
• recently graduated (within one year)

2) PRACTICAL CAREER TRAINING (PCT) type; max 18 months (+ max 2 months grace period) – for this category, the applicant should be:

• a university graduate with at least one year experience of work from the field they graduated in and what the internship is for, OR
• have at least five years work experience from the field they are planning to complete their internship in.

This means thatif the job contract exceeds 12-18 months, you will need to apply for an alternative visa later, e.g. H-1B.

For the applicant (you): USD 160 Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee.

For the startup: about USD 6000. As a non-profit organization, Startuplifers only charges for the costs that arise from the visa process, legal services, and flights.  

Your visa and flights are covered by the company. We will facilitate the process. Salary is subject to negotiation and varies across different companies and positions. You should expect a salary of USD 5000/month at a minimum  (e.g. junior developer) in San Francisco. However, many will receive a higher salary based on their expertise. Also, bear in mind that the salary can be increased over time depending on your performance. With this salary level, you can be sure to be able to cover living expenses in San Francisco.

You may be able to start the process while you are overseas, however, generally you have to be outside of the US when applying for a visa. Also, you will have to visit a US Consulate (e.g. in Helsinki) for a visa interview when you reach that point in your application process. Please contact us for more information.