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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

#81
post #45

How does the administration's hold on Green Cards affect people already in the process (from PERM through green card in-hand)?

Really not at all so far unless an applicant is getting his or her green card through a US Embassy abroad (known as immigrant visa processing).

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

#82
Does the current COVID restrictions/situation, present a challenge to justify someone's re-entry into the US for work, as employees can technically 'work from home' which is technically possible from abroad? (Asking as a TN holder, Mexican national, visa sticker valid for various months still).

Planning to travel to be back in (flying, commercial), to reduce uncertainty and be ready for an eventual return to office, although no specific date has been given by the employer but I continue to work for them remotely.

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

#83

I'm a Canadian Citizen going to the University of Waterloo. My next co-op work term is Winter 2021 (Jan-April). Would it be possible for me to work for a US company for that term? I've done the J-1 process twice before and that worked great in 2019, not sure about now given the visa suspension and COVID. Would appreciate any ideas here. - Could I still get a J-1 for Winter 2021? - Are there any other avenues for Cana…

There are no US immigration requirements to work remotely for a US company - that is, you don't need a visa or work authorization - but to work in the U.S, work authorization would be required and the J-1 won't be available again until January at the earliest.

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

#84

How do you justify being an American whose work entierly revolves around taking jobs that Americans could have fulfilled and trying to give them to people who are not citizens, did not grow up here, and see America as nothing less than an institution they can use to get ahead?

What is sad about this comment is how the author define and American. USA is a country that is built by immigrant (I am not talking about the CEO of big tech companies, I am talking about your grand-grand parents who came here a few generations ago)

How do you justify the people who let you ancestors to immigrate there being Americans whose work... (replace the rest with your own comment!)

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

#85

How do you justify being an American whose work entierly revolves around taking jobs that Americans could have fulfilled and trying to give them to people who are not citizens, did not grow up here, and see America as nothing less than an institution they can use to get ahead?

[deleted]

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

#86
post #45

How does the administration's hold on Green Cards affect people already in the process (from PERM through green card in-hand)?

Really not at all so far unless an applicant is getting his or her green card through a US Embassy abroad (known as immigrant visa processing).

Thanks for your time!

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

#87

If someone on H1b wants to create a business, a non profit, or just wants to freelance - what are the options available to them?

There's no option to freelance while on an H-1B visa and the options to work for another entity concurrently - that is, to get paid by another entity - are very limited and self-employment is generally prohibited. That being said, preliminary steps to create a business or to volunteer for a non-profit are allowed.

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

#88
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To date, because of the pandemic and job loss, I haven't seen any change in H-1B or PERM processing (and in fact I would argue both have improved in recent months) but it's possible - even likely - that PERM processing will be impacted because of the job loss.

If I changed jobs and transfer went through, I’m still able to get an H1B extension with an already approved I-140 even if the new PERM filing is impacted, yes? Thanks again!

Yes, that's correct.

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

#89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you don't let non-americans into the us, they cant be employers of americans.

Yes because I'm sure this attorney's work revolves around hiering CEOs and management positions. Point being that a tiny fraction of the people being brought here are not going to be employers and buissness owners. Most people are just taking jobs from Americans.

Half the country doesn't believe in science and that's where most of the work is. That's why you need high-skilled immigrants. But companies like TCS and Infosys do take away jobs from Americans.

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

#90
I had my O1 application approved by USCIS in early March. I still haven't been able to visit the US embassy here in Sweden for the final interview - they've shut down processing non-immigrantion visas due to COVID. Any idea when US embassies will open up again?
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