Felipe De Sande Palma is the founder of Amrap, a fitness tech startup built in the intersection of tech and wellness.
Originally from Spain, Felipe moved to the U.S. in 2022 to pursue his master’s degree at NYU. After graduating, he decided to stay and focus full-time on his company — navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration as an international founder.
He recently obtained his H-1B visa with Tukki.
Q: What worried you about the visa process?
F: I only had one year of OPT, and after that things get tricky if you want to stay in the U.S. Immigration here is a huge beast. I had no idea what to do, or even if I could apply for an H-1B.
I was pretty set on the idea that I would have to leave once my OPT ended. Months went by not knowing what would happen, and honestly, I didn’t think I would get it.
“U.S. immigration is a huge beast — I had no idea what to do or even if I could apply.” — Felipe
Q: How did you hear about Tukki?
F: I learned about Tukki through a LinkedIn post. I remember the logo and the phrase “U.S. immigration made simple” — and that really spoke to me.
I spoke with Ramiro, and he was super nice. Even though I was still under OPT, it was clear to me that they could help. The whole process ended up being so much easier than I expected.
“Even though I was still under OPT, it was clear in my mind that they could help.” — Felipe
Q: How was your experience working with the Tukki team?
F: I had spoken with some lawyers and firms before, and everything felt confusing — like a maze. As someone in tech, I really appreciated being able to see everything clearly.
With Tukki, I could visualize the entire process. The client service was awesome, with great attention to detail. I had bi-weekly check-ins with Valentina, and even when I was a bit MIA, they kept reaching out and following up.
“Before, it was a maze. With Tukki, I could visualize the whole process.” — Felipe
Q: How did you feel when your visa was approved?
F: We had just released a new version of our product, and the next day Ramiro messaged me saying, “Your week got even better — your visa got approved.” I told him he made my day.
Q: What would you recommend to someone evaluating their options?
F: If you’re a founder in the U.S., Tukki provides a great service — it’s super streamlined. If you’re into tech, you’ll love how the system and workflow work.