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

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

#181

Post by ronilan » Fri, Aug 25, 2017, 4:49 PM UTC

mars4rp wrote: post #136

adamnemecek wrote: post #110

Just wanted to say that not enough people know about the Green Card Diversity Lottery https://www.dvlottery.state.gov . The odds are kinda small and there are restrictions but I know at least three people who got their green card this way.

survival bias?

A decade+ ago I won the lottery on my third year trying. I got the winning notice the same month I got the Canadian immigrant visa (obtained as Skilled Worker) stamped in my passport. We chose to go to Vancouver.

I don't know about survivor bias but I think the movies were right. The odds are ever in you favor, and you can't see past the choices you don't understand ;)

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

#182

Post by proberts » Fri, Aug 25, 2017, 4:49 PM UTC

peterjlee wrote: post #151

Hi Peter, what effects do you think Trump's new policies on immigration will have on OPT/H1B engineers in Silicon Valley tech companies? My friends freaked out when he was first elected but so far they're saying not bad as they thought.

It's so hard to say but my feeling is that (right or wrong) anything that gets implemented won't really impact highly skilled and educated workers and might even benefit them.

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

#183

Post by Nimsical » Fri, Aug 25, 2017, 4:49 PM UTC

Hey Peter, thanks for doing this :)

I'm on an O1, founder or a company and have slightly less than 50% onwernship.

I've been thinking of getting a green card. What's the best approach?

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

#184

Post by proberts » Fri, Aug 25, 2017, 4:50 PM UTC

vishakh82 wrote: post #154

Hi Peter, has the been any uptick in RFEs and denials for H1 applications and transfers under the current administration? Have there been any other noticable changes for startup immigration under this regime?

There's been a huge uptick in RFEs.

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

#185

Post by shaq_hammer » Fri, Aug 25, 2017, 4:51 PM UTC

proberts wrote: post #172

shaq_hammer wrote: post #156

Do you have a moral defense of your supporting h1b or other immigration for work in an industry already showing signs of bursting for new native grads[1]? 1: https://i.imgur.com/kMicDgO.png

Sorry but I'm not sure what you are asking.

I'm asking how you justify helping more enter a market that's already showing signs of starting to not have enough room for natives, as you can see in the screenshot I linked. It drives down wages and makes it harder for natives to get a job, and a lot of native grads are struggling.

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

#186

Post by proberts » Fri, Aug 25, 2017, 4:52 PM UTC

j1f1h1bgc wrote: post #119

Hi Peter, I have heard they call you the James Bond of immigration. What do you think you this nickname and how did you get it?

That is really funny. I don't know. Probably just my good looks.

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

#187

Post by hughdbrown » Fri, Aug 25, 2017, 4:53 PM UTC

proberts wrote: post #169

hughdbrown wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A Green Card is a visa with permanent intent. A TN visa has temporary or limited intent. At best, such a transfer would signal that your TN was not pursued with temporary intent. In my IANAL experience as a Canadian who immigrated to the US, you need to transfer to a permanent intent visa like an H1-B from which the conversion to Green Card is more straightforward. Alternatively, marry an American.

Again, not correct and a common misunderstanding. One can go from a TN directly to a green card.

Interesting. That was not the case (or not the legal advice) twelve years ago when I went through all this. I guess it is a stretch to suppose that things would not have changed but I thought this was a fundamental characteristic of the TN visa.

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

#188

Post by proberts » Fri, Aug 25, 2017, 4:53 PM UTC

EternalData wrote: post #176

How much does it usually cost for an EB-1 process?

There's a wide range because the cost is almost all legal fees and I just don't know what everyone charges. If you'd like to know our fees, email me offline.

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

#189

Post by proberts » Fri, Aug 25, 2017, 4:53 PM UTC

alantrrs wrote: post #167

Is the startup visa (International Entrepreneur Rule) dead? or is there still hope?

Effectively dead, yes.

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

#190

Post by lauragomez1 » Fri, Aug 25, 2017, 4:55 PM UTC

proberts wrote: post #125

jonathanpoulter wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm also on an L1B visa, to my knowledge there's no such flexibility, to the point that you'd have to move back to your country or have a new company file a brand new H1B application if you wanted to move, I don't know how frequently this is done. An L1B visa is actually very restrictive as I understand it, any insight Peter had would certainly be interesting.

The L-1B visa does not allow you to work for another company. You would need to get separate sponsorship to work for another company.

Thanks for your replies guys, how likely is it to get sponsored by another company taking into account you already have experience in the US and currently live in the US? Also, is it possible for me to set up a startup if I wanted to? Thanks!!