Silicon Valley wannabes from foreign nations that can’t set up shop on land are looking for solution on the high seas — 12 miles from the shore, as plans have it.
Max Marty and Dario Mutabdzija, foreign entrepreneurs, are looking to set up a floating colony — called Blueseed — for tech workers who can’t legally establish offices on American soil. They want to sail a cruise ship in international waters, 12 miles off the California coast, the Los Angeles Time reports. That way, the entrepreneurs can build their businesses without worry about visas. The L.A. Times says the only documentation they would need are tourist visas to touch down on land every now and again.
Federal authorities only grant 65,000 temporary work visas per year.
The colony founders hope to bring their idea to fruition next year, pending federal government approval. More than 380 companies from 68 nations have applied to work aboard the ship.
Blueseed can house people for up to six months, Newser reports.
But one law professor quoted in the L.A. Times report foresees problems for the colony founders.
“Homeland Security is simply not going to be wild about foreign nationals living on a foreign flag cruise ship coming and going in the US on a regular basis with the obvious goal of avoiding US laws,” Craig Allen, a University of Washington law professor, said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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