Doing Business in the United States

A number of Vietnam’s companies are interested in establishing a presence in the United States to promote trade, both imports and exports, as well as to seek investment, technology transfer, and new partners.

Below are links to articles and downloads about “Doing Business in the United States” provided by AmCham members or other reliable sources of information.

Some of the files can be downloaded from our Doing Business in the U.S. Downloads Folder.

The information will be helpful during a company’s review and planning to set up operations in the United States.

The information provided is, of course, only a summary; however, it provides a significant amount of substantial information on which a company can rely in understanding the business environment in the United States, including legal, financial, property, information and communications technology infrastructure, logistics and supply chain management, etc.

Companies must keep in mind that the United States business environment includes both national and regional elements, with national laws and regulations and state laws and regularions affecting the conduct of business.

Doing Business in the United States—provided by AmCham Member Companies

Doing Business in the United States – Establishing a Presence, by Russin & Vecchi, 16 May 2007

Selling Your Products in the United States, by Russin & Vecchi, 04 Oct 2006

Exporting Furniture to the USA, by AmCham Furniture Committee: Expo 2006, Expo 2007

AmCham Member Companies Can Help You Set Up and Operate in the United States

AmCham professional service member firms would be happy to respond to specific questions, and are prepared to bring the information contained in online pages and downloads to the next level of detail. Click here for a list and links to AmCham member and associate companies and their contact information for the following key business sectors:

Accounting, Auditing, and Consulting
Banking, Finance, and Insurance
Information and Communications Technology
Legal Services
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Real Estate

Investment and Employment-Related Visas

U.S. State Department Visa Information

Employment Based U.S. Visas Employment-based visas also require a sponsoring American individual or company to file a petition with the USCIS. If you are interested in applying for, or acting as a petitioner for, an employment-based immigrant visa, please contact a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Local Office in the U.S. for more information. For example, click this link for the location of the USCIS Los Angeles Local Office. If a necessary labor certification is granted, the employer may then file a Form I-140, Petition for Prospective Immigrant Employee, with USCIS for the appropriate employment-based preference category.

Business Visa Center

U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City Visa Information

Business Visa Information

Organizations in the United States Can Help You Set Up and Operate

There are many potential locations for your business in the United States. Some initial locations for Vietnamese firms might include San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, etc. Below are brief introductions and contact points to organizations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle whose function is to help newly arriving firms to set up and operate.

SFCED: San Francisco Center for Economic Development
Provides resources that are intended to help companies as they set up an office in San Francisco. Through these resources or through direct assistance, the San Francisco Center for Economic Development (SFCED) can help guide you as you negotiate local, state, and federal requirements in order to get your business off and running. Examples of information that are available include

Starting a Business in San Francisco
SFCED Business Check List
Tax Issues for Foreign Companies: Open a Foreign Sales Office or Set Up a US Corporation?
How to Open a US Bank Account

Click this link to send your INFORMATION REQUEST to SFCED San Francisco Center for Economic Development.

SFCED provides free, confidential, and comprehensive advice as well as fast-track access to the information, expertise, and contacts you can rely on to help your company set up and succeed in San Francisco. If you have any questions or need any assistance to relocate your company or set up your office in San Francisco, please contact us for more information.

LAEDC Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation
LAEDC is keenly aware of the critical role of international trade and investment to the continued growth of our economy, and their contribution to the unique competitiveness of our region. We work to attract international investment and to promote international opportunities for our businesses through a variety of programs and partnerships, including the World Trade Center Association Los Angeles – Long Beach, which serves as the primary vehicle for our international initiatives.

The LAEDC is uniquely positioned to help expanding businesses take full advantage of all that Los Angeles has to offer. Through a broad-based coalition of chambers of commerce, trade organizations, business associations, and government officials, the LAEDC’s team of economic-development professionals offer confidential, free-of-charge information. This information and assistance is offered to decision-makers and consultants representing both significant large and small, domestic and international businesses in all industry sectors.

Click this link for more information from Carrie Rogers, LAEDC Vice President of Business Assistance & Development.

Click this link for information about LAEDC Business Assistance Services.
The LAEDC’s team of professionals offer confidential, free-of-charge information and assistance to decision makers and consultants representing both large and small, domestic and international businesses in the manufacturing, distribution and service industries.

Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle
There are a variety of organizations at the state, county and local levels which provide information and assistance to businesses looking to expand into Seattle and Washington state. With a diversified, high technology economy and a quality of life unsurpassed, Greater Seattle is a great place for your business. Here, in one location on the web, are links to everything you’ll need for conducting business in the Greater Seattle area: logistics on permitting and taxes, demographic statistics and information on all the assets and attributes of Greater Seattle.

Key online information resources that cover all sites and facilities in the U.S.

Invest in America: Resources Invest in America is the primary U.S. Government mechanism to manage foreign direct investment promotion. Efforts are focused on outreach to foreign governments and investors, support for state governments’ investment promotion efforts, and addressing business climate concerns by serving as ombudsman in Washington for the international investment community. Click the link for INFORMATION RESOURCES about Investing in America.

Area Development Online
“Area Development, the world’s leading magazine and information source for site and facility planning, simplifies the important criteria required for making new industrial and corporate facility decisions.”

Site Selection
Site Selection, the official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council, is published six times annually and distributed to over 44,000 executives responsible for site selection and facility planning decisions around the world. It is a vital link between corporate facility planners and Area Developers and Service Providers.

DevelopmentAlliance.com provides information to help you find the best location for your business.