Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE],
Happy Wednesday afternoon. ✨
Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club. :)
I'm writing this to you from a bus ride from Philly to New York! We kicked off the Unshackled Campus Tour yesterday at UPenn, with 3 more events this week at Columbia, NYU, and Long Island University.
Good news: you can join me in person on the tour at some locations and attend a FREE event on talent visas & immigration. If you're living in SF Bay Area, Boston, Dallas, or Austin, come RSVP for free below & enjoy an evening of education, networking, and free snacks!
The Boston event is happening next week Wednesday, April 10th! If you know a friend who is an international student or immigrant on a visa, tell them about it. We already have 250 RSVPs, and we're closing it at 300!
Now, onto the newsletter.
You're receiving this email as part of the Unshackled weekly newsletter. Immigration is a complex world. So every Wednesday, I simplify that by sharing breaking news, free webinar invites, & latest trends. If you find value in reading it, forward this to a lucky friend. If this was forwarded to you, get your own here! Read all the past editions here. 💃 |
This week's TL;DR
📌 UNfold: Breaking news
The USCIS has completed the initial electronic registration selection process for H-1B visas for fiscal year 2024! Enough registrations were received to meet the numerical cap of 85,000, including the advanced degree exemption. USCIS has notified petitioners with selected beneficiaries, allowing them to file H-1B cap-subject petitions. By now, you must have received the notification on the same. If you got it, congrats! If you didn't, take a look at this post.
Effective April 1, 2024, USCIS will implement increased filing fees for various immigration benefit requests, particularly for employment-based petitioners. The H-1B petition fee will rise by 70% to $780, while the L-1 petition fee will increase by 201% to $1,385. USCIS justifies the fee increases as necessary to improve processing times and address backlogs. The new fee schedule is set to generate an additional average of $1.14 billion in agency revenue.
Fired US Employees Accuse TCS of Favoring Indian H-1B Visa Workers; Tata Group's Company Responds
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) faces allegations of hiring bias in the US, with former American employees accusing the company of favoring Indian workers on H-1B visas over local staff based on race and age. The aggrieved employees claim that TCS illegally discriminated against them, leading to their termination and replacement with lower-paid Indian immigrants. Complaints have been filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, involving individuals of diverse racial backgrounds and ages. TCS has denied the allegations, asserting its commitment to equal opportunity employment.
🎁 UNlock: Webinar invites & resources
Join this webinar to uncover the secrets of navigating the U.S. immigration system and learn how the O-1B visa can be your gateway to international opportunities. Whether you're a YouTuber, blogger, podcaster, or any digital dynamo with a substantial following, this session is tailored just for you!
[Free Webinar] EB-1A for foreign-born founders (April 6th, 12 pm EST)
Join the insightful session featuring Anjaneya Naik, Head of Product & Founding Member at TracFlo, and Northeastern University Alum. Explore how a 28-year-old cracked the EB1 Code as a founder and learn the strategies he used to showcase his expertise as an entrepreneur. Anjaneya will discuss the milestones required to qualify for an EB1 visa, with a focus on foreign-born founders.
💫 UNcover: Latest trends
⚖️ Find top lawyers through Unshackled
On popular demand, we’ve launched a new directory of 8 top, trusted immigration lawyers. We've carefully vetted lawyers who can help you with everything from EB-1A profile evaluations to setting up your business as a student on OPT. And everything in between. Book a consult today!
🪄 UNveil: This week’s partners
Did an unsuccessful H-1B lottery leave you looking for a Plan B? You are not alone. Less than 25% of all registrants entering the annual lottery are selected. If your Plan B involves staying in North America, consider MobSquad. MobSquad helps tech professionals like you eliminate US work visa issues by enabling you to continue working with your current company, nearshore from Canada in just four weeks. They go above and beyond to make the immigration, relocation, and resettlement experience seamless. Find out how by booking a free 1:1 call with the team.
Are you urgently looking for jobs with H1B sponsorship? Jobright.ai is a FREE AI-powered co-pilot designed to expedite your H1B job search. It offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date listings, as well as insights into company sponsorships. Additionally, Jobright matches you with jobs that align with your expertise, tailor your resume for each role, and identify LinkedIn connections for referrals to help you get more interviews.
👉 Want to put yourself in front of 11,500+ high-skilled immigrants? Just hit reply to start a conversation.
Until next week, stay lovely.
Yours truly,
Soundarya 💚
💡 None of the information shared in this newsletter is meant to be legal advice. If you're looking for legal advice, speak to a lawyer, or hit reply and let me know so I can connect you with one.