What sensible options there are to immigrate or be able to work 5+ years?
I know of green card (lottery and marriage), L1-visa, H1B-visa, and OPT, are there any other sensible options?
I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
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Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#12Hi Peter, thanks for doing this! What are the implications of working remotely and outside of the US with a H1B1 (similar to H1B)?
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#13I'm a Canadian applying for a green card under EB-3. My priority date of January 2020 was current, but in March it retrogressed to January 2017. How likely do you think it is I will become current again in October?
That's really tough to say because that date depends on actual filings as well as projections but my personal feeling is that that number will move pretty rapidly in the coming months although I don't think it will be current in October.
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#14Given the large number of people losing their jobs in the US right now, do you think the US should be importing foreign labor?
Part of the foreign labor is creating jobs, not taking them:
https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/press-release/almost-44-p...
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#15What effect will country-wide layoffs and subsequent mass unemployment have on H1B and Green Cards? Will they be basically frozen until the economy recovers?
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#16I'm a Canadian applying for a green card under EB-3. My priority date of January 2020 was current, but in March it retrogressed to January 2017. How likely do you think it is I will become current again in October?
As a follow up, suppose I don't become current for many years and my TN Visa expires. Would I be able to keep renewing EAD/AP every year in order to keep working in the US until my I-485 is processed?
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#17Hi Peter, thanks for doing this!
I just got H1B lottery. The company is promising that they would apply for the green card as soon as I'm in US. My question is: is that possible for them to do that, generally and given the current scenario?
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#18Hi Pete - which countries do you think have the most positive immigration processes/criteria, and why?
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#19Hi Peter, thanks for doing this! What are the implications of working remotely and outside of the US with a H1B1 (similar to H1B)?
There are no immigration issues with working outside and within the U.S., as long as your home is within the MSA/normal commuting distance of the work site noted on the LCA, there are no issues. The challenge arises if your home is outside the MSA. Currently, this requires the filing of an amended H-1B petition but it's possible that USCIS will relax this rule.
Re: I’m Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#20I have two questions in regards to OPT for F-1 visa holders:
(1) What is your best guess what the changes that ICE announced to OPT is going to be? (see here https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=2019...)
(2) What is your best guess what the outcome of the WashTech suit against OPT is going to be? (see here https://www.nafsa.org/professional-resources/browse-by-inter...) If OPT falls would such a change be effecting all current F-1 holders?