Despite growing uncertainty over US immigration policies, 82 percent of founders surveyed by Singapore-founded immigration platform Beyond Border have not changed their plans to expand into the American market, with access to customers remaining the main driver of their ambitions.

Beyond Border’s August 2026 Founder Mobility Pulse revealed on last Thursday found that 85 percent of respondents identified access to US customers as their primary motivation for entering the market, while only 8 percent cited fundraising or investor networks.

The survey of 307 founders worldwide, including more than 200 based in Asia, suggests that commercial opportunities in the US continue to outweigh immigration concerns, even as the Trump administration increases scrutiny of employment-based immigration.

Some 60 percent of respondents intend to expand into the US within the next 12 months, while another 25 percent expect to do so in the following year. This means 85 percent are targeting US market entry within two years.

The findings come amid growing concerns over access to US immigration pathways, including recent moves affecting green-card sponsorship at major technology companies and investigations into visa programs at leading universities.

Beyond Border also analyzed 1,140 immigration inquiries from Asia-based individuals between August 2025 and September 2026, offering insights into the visa routes attracting interest among founders and skilled professionals.

The research suggests that while immigration uncertainty is adding complexity to international expansion, it has not fundamentally changed founders’ appetite for the US market.

Founders take the lead in US market entry

Nearly two-thirds of founders surveyed expect to establish a US presence personally, either alone or with a small team.

Some 35 percent anticipate the founder relocating alone, while another 29 percent expect the founder to be accompanied by a small launch team. A further 16 percent plan to establish a presence through a US-based hire without relocating the founder.

For early-stage companies, a founder-led presence could provide a practical way to build customer relationships, establish partnerships and understand local market conditions without immediately committing to a large operation.

However, this approach also places additional responsibility on founders who may continue to oversee business operations in Asia while establishing a foothold in the US.

The findings raise questions about how companies should determine which employees need to be physically present in the American market and when a founder-led operation should evolve into a larger local team.

Beyond Border’s survey found that 82 percent of respondents had not changed their expansion plans despite immigration uncertainty. Another 11% were either bringing forward their timelines or exploring alternative visa pathways.

The findings indicate that immigration concerns are prompting some founders to reassess their options rather than abandon expansion altogether.

O-1 visa draws strong interest

Beyond Border’s analysis of 1,140 immigration inquiries from Asia-based individuals found that about 45 percent, or 510 inquiries, concerned the O-1 visa, which is intended for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement.

US immigration statistics show differing trends across employment-based pathways.

Between financial years 2022 and 2024, approved L-1 petitions, commonly used by companies to transfer employees between offices, declined 31%. In contrast, O-1 and O-2 approvals increased 1 percent over the same period.

Separately, between FY2023 and FY2025, EB-1A approvals increased 20 percent, while EB-2 National Interest Waiver approvals fell 39 percent.

The figures suggest that demand and outcomes vary across immigration routes, with some pathways experiencing declines while others remain relatively stable or increase.

For founders and skilled professionals, the changing landscape may require greater consideration of which visa routes best match their qualifications, business plans and intended roles in the US.

Asia remains key to engineering and product development

While founders are seeking closer access to American customers, many intend to retain core business functions in Asia.

Beyond Border’s survey found that 72 percent of respondents planned to keep engineering and product development functions in the region.

Other functions founders expected to retain in Asia included operations, cited by 40 percent of respondents, sales and marketing at 30 percent, and senior leadership at 20 percent.

The results suggest that businesses may increasingly adopt a cross-border operating model, with founders or small teams based in the US to manage customer relationships while engineering, product development and other functions remain in Asia.

Rather than relocating entire teams, companies may prioritise which roles require a physical presence in the US and which can continue operating from their existing regional base.

This could allow Asian businesses to expand internationally while maintaining access to regional talent and potentially lower operating costs.

For Asian economies, the approach also highlights the potential for continued participation in the growth of internationally expanding companies, even when they establish operations in the US.

Returning technology talent could benefit Asia

Changing US immigration policies could also have implications for the movement of technology professionals, particularly those considering returning to their home countries.

According to recruitment firm Xpheno, an estimated 12,700 white-collar technology professionals returned from the US to India in the first nine months of 2026.

This compares with 15,100 returnees in the whole of 2025, 9,800 in 2024 and 7,200 in 2023.

The trend raises questions about whether other Asian economies could attract internationally experienced professionals reconsidering where to build their careers.

The US National Science Board reported that India and China accounted for 29 percent and 12 percent, respectively, of foreign-born workers in US science and engineering occupations in 2024. While this highlights the significant presence of Asian-origin talent in the US workforce, it does not indicate how many may consider returning to Asia.

Singapore, with its established technology and innovation ecosystem, could be among the economies seeking to attract experienced professionals.

However, tighter US immigration policies alone are unlikely to drive a significant return of talent. Asian economies would need to offer competitive compensation, career opportunities and access to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and deep technology.

Commercial opportunities continue to outweigh uncertainty

Beyond Border’s findings suggest that the US remains an attractive market for Asian founders, with customer access continuing to outweigh concerns over immigration policies.

At the same time, international expansion is becoming more complex, requiring businesses to balance customer proximity, immigration requirements, operating costs and the location of key functions.

For Asian economies, these developments could create opportunities to retain skilled professionals, support internationally expanding businesses and attract experienced talent.

The extent of these benefits will depend not only on changes in US immigration policy, but also on the ability of regional economies to provide compelling business and career opportunities.

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