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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

#191

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This is an inappropriate question for this AMA. The person is trying to help out others by offering some free guidance, and your question is, "how do you sleep at night, you scum-sucking bastard?"

The person is not here to help others, he is here to promote himself and his business. Do you really think a professional multi-millionaire attorney with his own law firm came here in the middle of a work day just to socialize?

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

#192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh yes it's just illegal immigrants that Republicans hate. That's why they spread lies about refugees and other legal immigrants, right?

The context was getting on with friends and family. I understand you might not able to think in these terms when it comes to the hated enemy, but if you think of all people as people, even Republicans, then you might notice that they don't all think the same things. Or even that they don't hate illegal immigrants, but think that laws are a good idea and criminals should be punished, not rewarded. This is just underst…

Did I say "all Republicans"? Nope. This is understanding English 101.

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

#193

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I wouldn't go as far as saying that immigration lawyers are "overseer on the plantation". That is an extreme imo. Lawyers are only there to help there clients navigate the laws of the land. They have serve both companies and immigrants as clients. Though, I strongly believe that H1b problem is modern slavery. Especially for people from India and China. The law is carefully crafted to ensure a constant supply of capti…

The U.S. has misused the law to exploit migrant laborers from Western Europe in the past, such as Irish immigrant workers building railroads a hundred years ago. The difference is, those Irish railroad workers were eventually able to ascend the social ladder and be treated as equals in our society, because they are white. They were similar enough to us that they could "pass" and be accepted in mainstream American society and not be looked upon forever as outsiders. Other exploited workers from that era were not as fortunate and continue to be dehumanized and marginalized even today. Every attempt they ever made to join the club and be participants in the great American Dream was systematically crushed, either by force of law or by force of mob violence. Because they are not white. We invented a whole victim-blaming narrative about this where we chalk it up to inferior genetics or lack of perserverence, but anyone with a brain can plainly see that it is the natural inclination for people to adapt to their surroundings and to do whatever they can to be accepted and welcomed into the social collective. It takes a powerful outside force to stop that from happening, to keep the outsiders from eventually turning into insiders, who will then start compelling us to share the commons with them.

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

#194

I have a Greencard and would become eligible to apply for citizenship this month. I wonder what the opinions are here on the pros and cons of that. Generally, regarding most practical aspects of daily life, being permanent resident seems pretty much equivalent to that of an US citizen. Pros: - can vote - can get security clearance, potentially more income - even long periods abroad do not bear the risk of loosing pri…

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

#195

I’m an Australian PhD student graduating into the US job market. I’m considering an EB-2 NIW. How does that work with the E-3 visa? What’s a good resource or law firm with experience in this kind of arrangement to refer to?

You may find this passage from USCIS relevant, particularly the last sentence.

> E-3 Specialty Occupation Workers may be admitted initially for a period not to exceed the validity period of the accompanying E-3 labor attestation (i.e., for a maximum of two years), and extensions of stay may be granted indefinitely in increments not to exceed the validity period of the accompanying E-3 labor attestation (i.e., for increments of up to two years each). As there is no limit on the total length of stay for an E-3 alien in the legislation, there is no specified number of extensions a qualify ing E-3 Specialty Occupation Worker may be granted. Under the current E regulation, 8 CFR 214.2(e)(5) , an alien classified under section 101(a)(15)(E) as an E-3 nonimmigrant shall maintain an intention to depart the United States upon the expiration of termination of E status. An application for initial admission, change of status or extension of stay in E-3 classification, however, may not be denied solely on the basis of an approved request for permanent labor certification or a filed or approved immigrant visa preference petition.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-ma...

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

#196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All correct. The E-3 visa is the easiest, fastest, and cheapest U.S. visa. But it does require a sponsoring employer. The only downside relative to the H-1B is that an E-3 visa is not a dual intent visa like the H-1B so this needs to be managed if and when the E-3 visa holder is in the green card process.

Can I self-sponsor an E-3, if I'm the founder of the company, with no other shareholders?

No it's like TN in that regard.

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

#197

I have a Greencard and would become eligible to apply for citizenship this month. I wonder what the opinions are here on the pros and cons of that. Generally, regarding most practical aspects of daily life, being permanent resident seems pretty much equivalent to that of an US citizen. Pros: - can vote - can get security clearance, potentially more income - even long periods abroad do not bear the risk of loosing pri…

I became a US citizen because I wanted to be able to vote and be a full participant of my community, and it's easier to be in the same line as my wife and child at the airport.

But even though I am not a criminal, it was also on my mind that if I were ever falsely convicted in some travesty of justice, I could also be deported, which would make it even worse.

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

#198
post #153
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there any reason to think that Trump will ramp things up if he gets a second term? Particularly since the Supreme Court is so thoroughly conservative now?

It would make sense to expect some ramp up because immigration is a stronger electoral issue than it was previously, and because a second Trump administration will probably be more coordinated and effective in implementing its goals than the first one was. Given how laden with unintended consequences any change in immigration policy is, though, there are probably some limits on the rate of change that would be possib…

> For example, without undocumented immigrants, milk would be a lot more expensive (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/15/magazine/milk-industry-un...). The current election is showing us quite starkly how significant grocery staple prices are in shaping public perception of a nation's economic health.

This strikes me as a bit tone deaf. These people are paid slave wages to do this work. They have unsafe housing conditions. They pay cartel fees to get across the border. Their "employers" are breaking the law. The government looks the other way. Personally, I'd be willing to pay more for milk (or any grocery product) if Americans were doing the jobs and getting paid fair wages with good benefits.

It gives me Kelly Osbourne on The View vibes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8INEYLFWwc

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

#199

I have a Greencard and would become eligible to apply for citizenship this month. I wonder what the opinions are here on the pros and cons of that. Generally, regarding most practical aspects of daily life, being permanent resident seems pretty much equivalent to that of an US citizen. Pros: - can vote - can get security clearance, potentially more income - even long periods abroad do not bear the risk of loosing pri…

As long as you keep your greencard, you still need to declare your income worldwide.

Depending on your home country, having US passport opens up a lot of other possibilities for travel too.

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