Immigration in America is a controversial topic at the moment, though it's clear to all it's still a protracted process. Visa applications alone usually involve hiring a lawyer, plus complex paperwork to sign. It also means excessive fees, which can become financially draining when entering the country with little money.
Thanks to the role of technology and the online world, much of this may soon be eliminated, including deportations.
VisaBot manages to meld artificial intelligence with immigration documentation. The brainchild of founders Artem Goldman and Andrey Zinoviev, the origins of this come straight out of Silicon Valley.
Their company is also a graduate of the Silicon Valley Founder Institute. For those of you battling the immigration process, take a look at what this could do for your future, and the future of VisaBot itself.
Background on Goldman and Zinoviev
With Goldman being born in Moscow, he already understood the pains of immigration. He worked as a project manager for Raiffeisen Bank Russia in his early days, as well as for the Russian Federal Agency of Government Communications and Information.
After moving to America, Goldman became the CEO of Legal Space, giving him a considerable expertise in legal issues. He also became a respected speaker on artificial intelligence, legal innovation, organizational change, legal technology, and entrepreneurship.
Co-founder Andre Zinoviev has Russian roots as well with a similar work past. He and Goldman creating VisaBot together in Silicon Valley was a perfect match for advancing AI to a new level.
How VisaBot Works
To show how clever VisaBot is, the first message you see on their website is "I Help Immigrants Make America Great Again." This facetious political message gives you a good indication about what's inspired the company's great success lately. In fact, Goldman recently noted in an interview that President Trump has become good for business.
Goldman went further. "We joke to investors that Donald Trump is our head of PR."
Nevertheless, the entire concept is revolutionary because it's entirely run by an AI program and through Facebook Messenger. Anyone trying to decipher complicated immigration paperwork can use this automated system to deal with 0-1's, B-2 Extensions, and DACA.
All you have to do is click on the "Tell My Chances" button on their main page to receive a percentage score on whether you're the best candidate for either form.
Plus, they offer direct connections to associate attorneys to aid you through any confusing steps.
They even let you upload free samples for letters of recommendation and petitions.
Recent Additions
Since going live in November, VisaBot added the DACA forms, though more recently added H-1B visa transfer and applications. Since VisaBot's base is in Silicon Valley, adding this is going to help tech companies in the region better attract the overseas talent they need.
Thanks to comprehensiveness and ease of use, VisaBot mostly stands alone, despite U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services using a similar (if complicated) online system.
Avoiding fees associated with immigration forms enhances the uniqueness of the site, so the future looks bright for Goldman and Zinoviev's company. It helps they'll be adding other forms in the near future, including green cards.
Recent Funding for VisaBot
Now serving 50,000 clients, VisaBot already has strong ammunition to become a powerful force. Back in February, the startup went through a round of seed funding, raising $475,000. The funding came from prestigious names like Adam Draper, Boost VC, and 500 Startups.
The fact the site can help anyone in any industry other than tech, expect their target users to swell soon. Or, it could face a slew of competitors who realize immigration as one of the most important subjects in our modern era.
