Until recently, the hard-working Thai community in the U.S. had been rarely associated with innovation. Faced with language barriers and limited knowledge of technology, many chose to pursue traditional businesses.
Elizabeth Maruyama is changing that narrative. Through her consultancy, America Visa Advisory, she helps Thai entrepreneurs launch scalable ventures and connects them with immigration lawyers and franchise brokers.
A short “Uber ride” to America
Maruyama’s uniquely lonely experience navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration inspired her to assist others.
She moved to the U.S. on a visa from the outsourcing company for Uber Asia-Pacific after the company’s office in Malaysia closed due to regulatory challenges. However, the project in the U.S. was short-lived and eventually terminated.
Left with just 60 days to find another position, she discovered the limitations of her visa. When she reached out to immigration attorneys in the Bay Area, many turned her away, dismissing her as not “extraordinary enough” to qualify for an O-1 visa.
“If I had more education about immigration at that time, I would have tried to create a portfolio to qualify for the EB1A visa, which wasn’t even as difficult to obtain back then,” Maruyama said. “But the attorneys I spoke with made me feel small.”
After leaving the U.S., she decided to try again. This time, Maruyama successfully navigated the complex immigration system and secured a visa.
Disillusioned with both the corporate world and immigration lawyers, she chose to pursue an entrepreneurial path focused on empowering other Thai nationals.
Building a community-focused consultancy
Maruyama started connecting with immigrant communities through Facebook groups. She began answering questions, drafting letters to expedite cases, and helping individuals navigate their immigration struggles.
“I was able to help around 30 people during COVID-19 who couldn’t find immigration attorneys,” Maruyama said. “They wanted to file themselves, and none of them got denied.”
Seeing the need for a more structured platform, Maruyama created a website to share articles and resources, guiding individuals through common immigration issues.
Her work quickly grew as she began helping not only Thai immigrants but people from various backgrounds who were looking to stay and build businesses in the U.S.
“Many Thai immigrants don’t speak English well or lack the confidence to approach immigration attorneys. I wanted to bridge that gap,” Maruyama said.
She soon realized that Thai immigration attorneys, particularly those with expertise in business immigration, were scarce. Many lawyers in the field were focused primarily on family-based immigration.
Transforming Thai businesses
When Thai entrepreneurs think about investing in the U.S., they often consider opening a restaurant. Maruyama helps clients explore alternative business models that are more scalable and innovative.
“We recommend exploring alternatives like vending machines, which require less capital, qualify for an investor visa, and can be more profitable if managed properly.
I know a Thai nurse who made her entire yearly salary in just one month from two vending machines in children’s hospitals.”
Maruyama is passionate about technology, but she acknowledges that raising funds for immigrant entrepreneurs, particularly women and people of color, is challenging.
“The statistics are staggering — only 1.8% of female founders received venture funding last year, whether American or not,” she said. Maruyama recently met a Thai female entrepreneur who had overstayed her visa while trying to raise funds for her ClimateTech startup.
“She was a recent graduate of one of the top U.S. schools, 100% qualified, but the process became messy,” Maruyama said. “Fundraising is a trap — you’re on a timeline with investors, and that can complicate things.”
Now, Maruyama works to connect immigrant entrepreneurs with venture capitalists investing in startups that aim to make a difference.
What’s next for Thai entrepreneurs in the U.S.?
In addition to offering personalized advice and advocacy, Maruyama is now looking to expand her services through technology. She is working with tech founders from Y Combinator to develop a platform that helps clients file and track their immigration cases.
This platform, which will be available in Thai, is designed to make the immigration process more transparent and user-friendly for the community.
“The platform can help you assess your case before you even submit it,” Maruyama says. “We want to make it easy for people to understand the legal language and avoid mistakes. AI can certainly streamline some parts of the process.”
Maruyama is aiming to pave the way for a new generation of Thai entrepreneurs. She wants to ensure immigrant founders have the opportunity to succeed and try again if they fail to raise funds.
“Startups aren’t just focused on exits or wealth; they’re building valuable solutions, often with limited resources,” she said. “They develop technology that could impact our future. I hope we never see immigrant founders struggle to raise funds and get denied a visa.”
Disclaimer: America Visa Advisory is a supporter of The Vertical and a Recommended Service Provider.
