We get that question frequently from both individuals and employers, so here’s a quick rundown of what you should know. U.S. immigration law caps the number of green cards issued per year for employment-based categories at 140,000 and for family-based categories at 226,000. Each green card category is subject to a quota not only on…
Yesterday President Trump suggested he might have plans to provide a path to citizenship for H-1B visa holders. Tech employees, young entrepreneurs, startups, and the U.S. economy stand to benefit if this pathway comes to fruition. “H1-B holders in the United States can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity…
Last week, Charles Oppenheim, chief of the Department of State’s Immigrant Visa Control & Reporting, provided an estimate of the final action dates over the next several months and the estimated wait times for an EB-5 green card. He said the final action dates will remain “current”—or ready for processing—for all countries except India China,…
If you’ve done some amazing things, you have a lot of U.S. immigration options. Options mean choices, and you have several choices to make regarding your path to obtaining a U.S. green card. Our clients often consider applying for either an EB-1A green card for extraordinary ability or an EB-2 green card with a…
We recently held office hours at Draper University to answer immigration questions from the current batch of students in the summer startup training program. Thanks to one of our clients—a graduate of the program—Draper staff invited me and my colleagues, Jeff Huang and Gabby Phillips, to talk to interested students about their options. When we…
“How can I get a green card faster than through my employer?” That’s the question we’ve been getting over and over recently, especially from Indian and Chinese software engineers in Silicon Valley. Last week, the Cato Institute, a public policy think tank, estimated that individuals from India face a whopping 151-year wait to transition from…
If you are from China or India and eligible to file for an adjustment of status under an EB-1 petition, we recommend you do so by March 30. Contact the Alcorn Immigration Law team if you need assistance. Starting on April 1, individuals from China and India will no longer immediately receive an EB-1 green card…
Bad news for startup founders. The International Entrepreneur Rule—the closest thing to a startup visa in the U.S.—is dying a slow painful death. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice in the Federal Register delaying the effective date of the rule until March 14, 2018, to consider rescinding the rule altogether. This move follows an…
If you’re an international founder, legally establishing your new startup in the United States presents a challenge. Devising the best strategy requires knowing the immigration options available, consulting with an experienced attorney, and weighing the factors in your situation. If you would like a strategy session about your immigration options, contact us at Alcorn Immigration…
I frequently get asked this question by aspiring entrepreneurs. The short answer is, yes. If the Alcorn Immigration Law team sets you up properly for success, you can get an H-1B as a startup founder. However, if you have an H-1B from a company other than your intended startup, you would face restrictions regarding your…