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Immigration is a complex topic. So every Wednesday, I simplify it by sharing insights with you in simple, engaging language.
I share top stories, relevant resources, and fun posts from corners of the internet so you just need to spend a few minutes staying on top of things. And, I sprinkle it on top with updates on my upcoming book, Unshackled.
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Unshackled is your guide to cracking immigration in America.
What’s covered in the book?
(Below is a subset of topics covered in the book.)
🏢 Starting a business on H1B
H1B is the most common visa obtained by high-skilled immigrants. There’s a good chance you’re on it now. But can you start a business on it? How do you do it? What are the do’s & don’ts? We’ll answer it all.
🧠 Getting your EB1 Einstein Visa
The Einstein Visa has gained popularity over the last decade. But who should apply for it? Do you need a PhD? What does the process & timeline look like? Who are vetted lawyers to approach? We’ll dive deep into all this.
💡 Getting your O1 Outstanding visa
O1 is one of the more founder-friendly visas. But like the EB1, who should apply? When should you start preparing? How is it different from the H1B? Can you work for more than one employer on an O1? It’s time this is all demystified.
👩🎓 Starting a business as a student
If you’re a student with a brilliant idea, it’s possible for you to start now. How can students get a cap-exempt H1B? What is the Entrepreur-in-Residence program? Who is eligible for it? Can you go from an F1 to an O1 or EB1? All this, and more, will be addressed.
🤔 How does immigration work?
Most immigrants think the immigration system here is complex, scary… and anti-immigrants. Is that really true? What’s the history of the current laws in place? What does the future look like for skilled immigrants like you in this country? Join us as we explore these important questions.
Why write this book?
Entrepreneurship and business creation are fundamental to a healthy economy.
Yet, the United States does not have a startup visa that immigrants can utilize to easily set up a business and benefit the country.
However, that is not a roadblock for immigrants who move to the United States.
As of September 2019, there were 3.2 million immigrant entrepreneurs in the United States, making up ~22% of all business owners and creating 8 million jobs in total, despite accounting for only ~13% of the population.
And, the number of businesses founded by immigrants grew by 50% between 1996 and 2011.
Given the rising need, Unshackled forms a shorter bridge for immigrants to go from wanting to start a business to actually starting one.
Also, there is no book like this on the market right now.
About the authors
Soundarya Balasubramani (aka curiousmaverick) is a published author, course creator, and ex-Product Manager at Salesforce. Her first book, Admitted, is a best-seller on Amazon India. Her blog has been read by 200,000 people, and her videos on YouTube have been viewed over 1 million times.
She migrated from India to the United States in 2017 for her master’s at Columbia University. Prior to that, she graduated as a Gold Medalist from NIT Trichy. She’s also the recipient of 12+ awards and scholarships including the J.N.Tata Endowment, Cargill Scholarship, and S.N.Bose Scholarship.
Sameer Khedekar is a nationally-renowned immigration lawyer and the Managing Attorney of Banyan Law, a global immigration law firm that he founded. He was selected to Rising Stars for 2012 – 2014.
With 17 years of experience and recognized as one of the Top 20 Immigration Attorneys in the nation by HR Executive, Sameer leads a team of 5 members and has worked with hundreds of clients to file visas ranging from O1s to H1Bs to EB1s.
