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Unshackled is the name of a book and its accompanying online community. On here, you’ll find articles on everything from building your profile for an O-1A visa to starting a company on your H-1B. Want to get such resources directly in your Inbox? Join 7000 immigrants who hear from us every Wednesday.
I’ve been waiting to share this with you for months now. Finally, it’s official: Doug Rand will be flying in from Washington D.C. to join us for a fireside at the Unshackled launch party on July 22nd, in Silicon Valley.
Now, who’s Doug? Doug joined the White House in 2010 and spent 6 working under President Obama on a bunch of policies to help high-skilled immigrants like you, including the H-4 EAD rule, IEP entrepreneur program & 60-day grace period. What’s more, he’s the co-founder of Boundless Immigration and currently advises the government on policies.
I know you probably have a ton of questions about where US immigration is headed. Come join me — and 250 others — to ask them directly to Doug, and engage in a thoughtful discussion on immigration policy.
Get tickets and join the discussion (promo code: GETUNSHACKLED)
Before we jump into the newsletter, I want to welcome 52 new subscribers to our newsletter since last week. Welcome, folks! And thanks to you if you forwarded this to a dear friend. 🙏
You're receiving this email as part of the Unshackled weekly newsletter. Immigration is a complex world. So every Wednesday, I try to simplify that by sharing top stories, curated resources, & fun tweets from the internet that matter to you. I also sprinkle it with updates on my upcoming book, Unshackled, at the end. If you find value reading it, forward this to a lucky friend. If this was forwarded to you, get your own here! Read all the past editions here. 💃
This week's TL;DR
- Canada's open work permit: a closer look.
- Starting something of your own as a student on F-1.
- Free webinar on getting your Canadian PR.
📌 UNfold: Top stories
Analyzing Canada's New Visa Initiative for U.S. H1B Visa Holders
In our previous newsletter, we talked about Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy that aims at attracting skilled foreign workers, particularly those on H-1B. In case you missed it, Canada is opening its doors to 10,000 H-1B visa holders to relocate and work there, even if you don't have a job offer from an employer. While the initiative is smart and stratetgic, it's worth remembering the downfalls: Canada has a lower pay rate, economy is not great, & it's only open 10,000 slots (leading to more demand than supply).
A Closer Look: India EB-3 Retrogression in Context
Due to an overwhelming demand for EB-3 visas from Indian applicants, there has been a retrogression in the availability of these visas. The EB-3 visa category is designed for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers seeking employment opportunities in the United States. Once the limit is reached, applicants face delays in visa processing or, in some cases, a complete halt in visa issuance until more visa numbers become available in the following fiscal year. Learn more about the reason behind the delays and strategies to navigate it.
H1-B visa program still popular among tech employers even as they cut back
Technology employers in the United States are increasingly seeking work visas amidst a wave of layoffs in the industry. The ongoing shortage of skilled workers, particularly in areas such as software development and engineering, has prompted tech companies to actively recruit talent from overseas. These companies are leveraging work visa programs to access a global pool of skilled professionals who can contribute to their operations and innovation.
🎁 UNlock: Relevant resources
Becoming an entrepreneur on F-1 Visa
I've begun publishing excerpts from my book, Unshackled, on the website. My eventual plan is to publish the whole book for free. This in-depth article talks all about how you can start and build something of your own as a student on F-1 visa (yes, it's possible!). Enjoy reading!
AMA with Ron Matter on decoding the O-1 criteria
In this “Ask Me Anything” session, I interviewed Ron Matten who is a veteran immigration lawyer and the founder of Matten Law. We talked about three criteria under the O-1: original contribution, critical capacity, & awards. This was originally conducted within the Unshackled community. Apply here to join.
The news last week around Canada's open work permit has everyone looking to Canada as a viable option now! In this free webinar, you'll learn the process of applying for a Canadian PR in depth and speak with Sudeep Datta -- an immigrant who lost the H-1B lottery but won the Canadian citizenship. Sudeep got his Canadian PR within a few years by working with Syndesus.
💡 None of the information shared in this newsletter is meant to be legal advice. If you're looking for legal advice, speak to a lawyer, or hit reply and let me know so I can connect you with one.
🪄 UNveil: This week’s sponsor
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I've been using it for 3 years on and off -- and can't recommend it enough. As a bonus, you get a 6-month free trial when you use the link below.
👉 Want to sponsor an upcoming newsletter? Just hit reply to start a conversation.
💫 UNcover: Picks from the internet
- Want to speak with a Wharton MBA student about your immigration experience? Rebecca Liu is conducting research on challenges with US immigration & would love to talk to you! Schedule your call or email her at liure@wharton.upenn.edu
- Attend a free webinar by Dr. Poulami Dutta (an EB-1 recipient) on how to use your PhD or postdoc experience strategically to get your EB-1. [July 8th 2023, 09:00 AM PST]
- This July Fourth, reflect on immigrants’ contributions and urge reform.
🥳 TL;DR on the Unshackled Launch [July 22]
What is it? A 250-member gathering to celebrate the launch of Unshackled, and make lasting connections within the immigrant community.
When & where? July 22nd. 5:00-9:00 PM (with a potential after-party after ;)). Plug & Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale, CA.
Who's coming? 20 O-1/EB-1 extraordinary visa recipients. 10 immigrant founders. 10 investors. 5 lawyers. 5 journalists. 1 White House expert. & dozens of cool people (like yourself).
Why should I come? (a) To make meaningful progress toward your immigration goal, (b) to talk to folks who've been there, done that, (c) to get free consults with lawyers, & (d) to engage in a thoughtful discussion around the future of immigration policy (we all know it's not great right now).
If you'd like to grab one of the 65 tickets remaining, do it soon using the link and promo code below.👇
Get ticket to launch (promo code: GETUNSHACKLED)
Until next week, stay amazing.
Yours truly,Soundarya 💚