Hi peter! Im on f-1 currently had an internship within the software space as a sophomore-struggling to get one as a junior because of the after effect of the tech layoffs, most companies aren’t hiring international students anymore - with regards to immigration and your previous experience how hard do you think is it in the current light to find an actual job within graduation.
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
#242What are the biggest issues that you see in the immigration mechanism that the US currently has in place (in terms of tech work visas) and how can we improve upon them as a community? From your vantage point is the immigration mechanism (for tech) working effectively for its intention or does it not align with its stated intent?
For the most part, even if bumpy and burdensome, I think the immigration system works well (or well enough) for stars (or certain types of stars). But I don't think it works well for many others, such as talented engineers, for example, who don't meet the star definition, and for the companies that want to employ them. This was one of the purposes of the H-1B program - to allow for the employment of talented professi…
I know it's not your specialty, but perhaps you have an informed opinion about differences between EU and US laws that govern residence permits for software developers?
Re: I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#243When a USA citizen meets abroad and wants to marry a non-USA citizen, with the intention of the non-USA citizen pursuing permanent residence in the USA, does it have any effect on the process which country they get married in? I've heard this and similar concerns from employees of multinationals who meet someone while at an overseas branch. They want to do what they can to avoid snags.
I was in this boat back in 2017, and a lawyer working with my FAANG company advised me off the record that our best bet was to visit the USA, and suddenly have a surge of loving feelings and spontaneously get married in a tiny impromptu ceremony. Then apply for a change of status while in the USA. I probably should have listened to her.. I did it the "right" way since I wanted to quit that job anyway. Got married abr…
Same thing in our case -- we didn't want to move to the US right away (wanted to spend ~6-9 more months in Taiwan anyway). It ended up being a 2 year slog through covid, was brutal.
Wish we would have had an overwhelming urge to get married when we were visiting my family in the states instead.
Re: I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#244I have a lot of friends at work that have H1B visas. They try to get green cards but the process drags out often for more than a decade. Why is it so hard for people who want to be here, and who have well paying jobs, to get green cards?
It’s country based. I have family and it took them less than 6 months. For Indian and Chinese, they can forget about it.
Re: I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#245[deleted]
Hey. I’m from Tunisia so I can relate a bit.
1. Build travel history. If you can get a Schengen, go get it and have a short trip to Europe.
2. Get the B1/B2 visa. It’s relatively easy for north africans. If you can enter the US with it, go for it, though flights can be expensive.
3. Apply for the canadian visa. 95% you’ll be approved for it.
Re: I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#246Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's surprising. They definitely should reapply. Where are they from and where do they live?
Romanian residents & citizens. Even stranger is the fact that mom was rejected last year and the next person in the queue was a friend applying for the same visa and stating the same intention of visiting me - he was granted the visa.
It’s random unless there are some serious red flags. Just re-apply.
Re: I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#247Are there good ways for US companies to host international grad students in their internship programs? How hard is it for them? Specifically I had a conversation with a few administrators at universities in Sweden and this question came up on behalf of their students. Thanks for regularly showing up here. I went EB2NIW some years ago and still get ptsd reading these threads. Hang in there everyone struggling with imm…
The US companies don't have to do anything - J1 is applied by the student, he just needs a signing letter from you (German here who did this twice in 2007 and 2009). I did not have an attorney or help; just apply at the US Embassy and follow the procedure.
Re: I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#248Hi Peter, my brother and I (both based in Germany) think of founding an LLC for for renting (we became landlords through inheritance). We do not intend to immigrate to the US, but I am curious if such an LLC would help getting a permanent visa at one point? I already had a couple of US visa in the past (2x J1, 1x F-1, 1x B1/2).
Re: I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#249Thanks for the AMA! Thoughts on the IER? https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/internati...
I've heard from a few immigration attorneys from big and small firms and they basically all said they'd never worked on one and would suggest finding someone with more experience
Re: I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA
#250I am currently on H1b. If I got laid off and went back to my home country for 2 years. After 2 years, if a US company decides to hire me back, could I come back on H1b (provided my H1b hasn't reached the limit of 6 years). Does it happen?