There are a number of questions that have not been asked:<p>How many applicants does YC have from countries with visa issues?<p>Has any YC applicant been denied entry into the US? If so, what were the circumstances?<p>In looking though YC historical records, how many people, on average, would typically apply from affected regions?<p>How many of those people were accepted into the program?<p>How many of those people succeeded?<p>In the age of Skype, why can't interviews be conducted without the need to travel?<p>Yes, I understand speaking to someone in person delivers a lot more information than possible through online meetings. An initial online meeting could function well as a 1 to 3 pass filter leading up to an in-person meeting, thereby providing a lot more time to deal with visa issues.<p>I am taking a wait-and-see attitude with regards to visa restriction issues. As is the case with any startup or new venture, mistakes are made, non-ideal rules are implemented, some confusion seeps in, etc. So long as the process is one where the right solution is evolved and the ability to pivot is retained things eventually improve. These rules should not behave differently.<p>What gives me hope? Take a look at who sits in Trump's business advisory council (not sure this is a current list):<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-on-trump-business-advisory-council-2017-2" rel="nofollow">http://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-on-trump-business-advi...</a><p>It would be inconceivable that this topic isn't discussed with frequency in these meetings.<p>If I were to presume to be able to give YC advice it would be this:<p>Use your connections to gain a seat in this council.<p>Being part of the dialog is the best way to affect positive change. That doesn't mean agreeing with all policies, it does mean you'd be heard at the highest levels rather than not.<p>And, if you do gain a seat in this council I would further ask that you work hard to convince the administration to take the SBA and convert it into a YC-style program where, in every city of this country, entrepreneurs can have access to not just funding but a real support infrastructure to chase after their ideas.<p>The SBA has never been of real use to the myriad of startups that have revolutionized the world. If you want to borrow $100K from the SBA you better have $100K in the bank, or more. And the "advisers" they offer-up are often so far behind the times they are only good to help open a doughnut shop or more traditional non-scale-able businesses.<p>Yeah, do that and the immigration thing and you'll change this country. But you have to be on the inside to do it.