**Drum rolls please**

I've got confirmation from all of the sponsors & lawyers at my upcoming book launch that they'll offer 30-min free consultation for all the attendees, beyond the launch event!

I know how stressful it can be to be in a painful immigration situation or just start out with your EB-1 process and not know who to reach out to. This way, you won't ever have to worry again as you'll meet at least 5 (very good) lawyers at the event. I recommend talking to all of them and getting their email for a free consult later on.

Scroll to the end of this newsletter to see everything you'll get by attending the launch! Tickets close in 7 days.

Get tickets to launch for $109 (promo code: GETUNSHACKLED)

Before we jump into the newsletter, I want to welcome 300 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. 💃

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This week's TL;DR

• There's a proposal to recapture 230,000 green cards.
• ​A comprehensive list of resources if you're laid off.
• ​Free Webinar: Know your tax liabilities as an Indian NRI.

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📌 UNfold: Top stories

Recapturing Unused Green Cards: A Potential Gain for India​

Here's the irony: on one side, people from India and China wait in a never-ending backlog for a green card. On the other side, the U.S. has over 230,000 unissued green cards due to administrative delays. To address this, a U.S. President's advisory commission has proposed the recapture of these 230,000 unused green cards since 1992. This could significantly benefit folks from India, who face long green card wait times due to high demand and the country caps. BUT, this still needs to be approved by Congress before it can be put into action.

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​65% Of Top AI Companies Have Immigrant Founders​

New research reveals that immigrants have founded or co-founded 65% of top AI companies in the U.S., according to the National Foundation for American Policy. This highlights the significant role immigrants play in fueling the AI industry in America. Welcoming immigration policies could further boost U.S. leadership in AI and other tech fields. The study also shows a diverse range of countries from which these entrepreneurs originate, further emphasizing the global nature of innovation in AI.

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​USCIS Introduces Online Rescheduling for Biometrics Appointments​

USCIS recently launched an online tool for rescheduling biometrics appointments. This tool lets you reschedule appointments without calling the USCIS Contact Center. However, it can't be used for appointments that have been rescheduled twice or more, are within 12 hours, or have already passed. The tool is part of USCIS's efforts to improve customer service and can be accessed via a USCIS online account.

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🎁 UNlock: Relevant resources

​Free Webinar: Know Your Tax Liabilities As An NRI From India [15th July 2023, 10:00 AM PDT]​

Almost nobody likes to do taxes. And literally nobody likes knowing they owe more taxes than they thought. I know friends who've lost thousands of dollars because they didn't even know the rules. So if you're an NRI from India, check out this free webinar by Inri where a tax expert will walk you through the complex world of cross-border taxation and help you understand if you're covered on your bases.

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​Comprehensive Guide for Immigrants Facing Layoffs in the US​

In the last 6 months, 210,000+ employees have been laid off, most of them in the tech sector. Of 210,000, at least 10% were immigrants on visas who only have 60 days to figure something out before needing to leave the country. If you're one of them, check out this post. I've compiled resources for staying back, job hunting, and helping international students. And, pass it along to someone in your network who might find it helpful!

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​Find out instantly when your priority date becomes current​

"Current Priority Date" is a (free) web app that shows a graph of how the visa bulletin has moved historically. You cannot predict when your priority date will become current but looking at the past dates can give you a better sense of how the green card queue is moving. Surprisingly, the dates sometimes jump forward only to retrogress soon after so it is important to stay on top of the visa bulletin and submit your paperwork in that brief window when your priority date becomes current!

​💡 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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The stage is set for India to replace China as the 'high-flying geese', thereby unlocking its full growth potential. The Indian stock market is at all-time highs while the S&P 500 is still 10% down with growing concerns about high inflation in the US economy. If you've got some extra $$ lying around and want to invest it into growth in India, check out Inri -- they simplify the process and paperwork so you just focus on making more money. Plus, they're offering a lifetime FREE access to the tool if you invest by the end of July!

P.S. This startup was founded by my friend from Columbia University. So I'm personally excited to share this with you!

Start investing into India (lifetime FREE access)

👉 Want to sponsor an upcoming newsletter? Just hit reply to start a conversation.

💫 UNcover: Picks from the internet

• Want to spend your Saturday morning sitting around a table with immigrant leaders & enjoying a Turkish breakfast? (Cost: ~$60) 
• Join Aditi Paul's masterclass to navigate the H-1B visa process successfully, covering application strategies and handing RFEs. (Cost: $5) 
• ​EB1-B could be a better choice over EB1-A for Indian immigrants seeking a green card, due to shorter processing times, more targeted criteria, and higher approval rates!

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🥳 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 45 tickets remaining, do it soon using the link and promo code below.👇

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Get ticket to launch (promo code: GETUNSHACKLED)

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Until next week, stay amazing.

​​Yours truly,Soundarya 💚