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I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

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41–50 of 414 posts

Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

#41

Hi Peter, thank you for doing this. What are the steps towards citizenship after one got Green-Card via H1B -> Green-Card route under the current administration's laws? Are there any changes and new restrictions, etc.?

No changes yet and the naturalization process is generally very easy, 5 years as a permanent resident to qualify (unless married to a U.S. citizen for 3 years, then only 3 years to qualify). USCIS's web site provides very good information about the natz process.

Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

#43
Hi Peter, thanks for doing this!

If a recent college grad is on OPT, and lets say they majored in actuarial science (STEM), are they allowed to make money selling crafts and art that aren't related to the major? I know there's a clause for jobs unrelated to your major, but I wasn't sure if this applied to selling art or having art showings. How does this work?

Thanks!

Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

#44
Hi Peter,

If I want to enter the US under the TN visa, do I have to get a job offer that says its only for a period up to three years (the max TN term)? What should the job offer letter say about the period of employment, if anything at all?

Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

#45

Hello Peter: I'm a U.S. male citizen who married a Mexican single mom. The child is a U.S. citizen as well. We're in the process of getting my wife a green card. Because of my job in L.A., and because my wife's business interests are in Mexico, we have a commuter marriage. She intends to stay in Mexico until we're empty nesters. Will that be a problem in the interview when getting her green card? Thanks much

You might have to do some explaining but in my experience, when a marriage is legitimate, even if the couple is living apart, the green card application always gets approved.

Wouldn't the wife have to move to the US within six months once she's approved for the green card?

Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

#46
post #17
post #14

Is there a way to remotely open a bank account in the US for a Delaware c-corp?

Yes? You can open a bank account on almost any bank's website. Even my local bank in town will let me open a business bank account remotely.

Not a business account though

Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

#47
Hi Peter! A friend of mine has just started OPT and has founded a company. She plans on using the STEM extension too, which was a successful path for myself and some others, but the recent changes to the STEM extension seem to be considerably more limiting now. Do you have any guidance on options for founders considering the OPT and STEM extension route?

Many thanks in advance!

Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

#49
post #22

If NAFTA talks break down and the treaty is cancelled, what could happen to Canadian workers on TN visas?

My understanding is that there would need to be separate Congressional action to do away with the TN, which I personally think is unlikely. But if that happened, then the impact on those in TN status would depend on the details of the legislation doing away with the TN.

Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

#50

Hi Peter! A friend of mine has just started OPT and has founded a company. She plans on using the STEM extension too, which was a successful path for myself and some others, but the recent changes to the STEM extension seem to be considerably more limiting now. Do you have any guidance on options for founders considering the OPT and STEM extension route? Many thanks in advance!

That's right, STEM OPT is much more restrictive than "regular" OPT for founders and owners. But the details of this are really up to the school so I would recommend that she speak openly with her school's international student office to find what's required to get STEM approved for a founder/owner.
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