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Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE],

Happy Wednesday. ✨

Soundarya here, from Unshackled. :)

After 2 weeks, I finally feel semi-settled in San Francisco, CA.

Also, I'm very excited about my first masterclass on the O-1 visa, happening tomorrow (Thursday). We're closing all registrations in the next 24 hours. If you need some push toward making progress in your O1/EB1 journey, this is for you. Come join me and 100+ others!

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Before we jump in, I want to thank our sponsors MobSquad and LCR Capital who made this newsletter free for all. And, I'm delighted to welcome 170 new subscribers to our newsletter since last week. We're 9362 members strong now! 🙏

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This week's TL;DR

• [Registration closes in 24 hours] Join my first masterclass on O1/EB1, happening tomorrow.
• ​Free webinar on putting together a compelling EB1 case.
• The December Visa Bulletin is here... and there's no change.

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📌 UNfold: Top stories

​U.S. Government Gears Up for Potential Shutdown Amid Fiscal Deadline Looming​

With only 8 days until the expiration of federal funding, the U.S. government is once again bracing for a possible shutdown. White House has instructed federal agencies to prepare for significant disruptions if an agreement is not reached before November 17. Hard-line House conservatives pose a challenge to passing a short-term funding deal. The impasse raises concerns about the halt of crucial federal programs, affecting millions of workers and causing economic strains. We'll share an update next week again!

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​December 2023 Visa Bulletin is Here. But... There's Almost No Change.

The December 2023 Visa Bulletin is now out. However, there is almost no movement in the employment and family-based preference categories. USCIS said they will allow specific India and China applicants to file I-485 in December based on their priority dates (check the article for more details). Overall though, you probably won't be able to file for a green card through the EB-2/3 categories in 2024 if you're Indian-born.

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​U.S. Economy Gains $40.1 Billion Boost from International Students!​

In the 2022-2023 academic year, international students contributed a whopping $40.1 billion to the U.S. economy, marking a 19% increase and the second consecutive year of growth. The Open Doors report indicates a 12% rise in international student enrollment, reaching 1,057,188. Beyond economic benefits, experts highlight the diverse campus experiences and international perspectives these students bring. Specifically, Indian student numbers surged by 35%, showcasing continued global interest in U.S. education.

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🎁 UNlock: Relevant resources

​[REGISTRATION CLOSING IN 24 HOURS] Masterclass: Get sh*t done toward your O1/EB1 goal by Soundarya Balasubramani [16th Nov, 6:00 PM PST]​

On September 12th, 2023, I got my O-1A extraordinary visa approved as the solo founder of an educational venture that publishes books & builds communities.
This is the FIRST masterclass where I will be diving deep into my journey to help you -- an ambitious immigrant -- build your roadmap and reach your end goal. You don't wanna miss this! (This webinar is being conducted as part of the Unshackled online community.)

BONUS: You get a free copy of my book with the ticket.

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​[Free Webinar] How to Craft a Compelling EB1 Case [18th Nov, 9:00 AM PST]​

"How do I convince a USCIS officer that I am extraordinary enough to get a green card?" The ex-immigration officer turned immigration attorney, Jocabed Botello, and an EB1 recipient, Dr. Manideep T., will teach you how to effectively answer this question this Saturday. Take a friend!

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​Custom ChatGPT Built to Answer Your Immigration Questions​

Well, surprise surprise, now we have a custom GPT that answers immigration queries! I'm both excited and scared for what Gen AI is about to do to the world. But in this specific instance, I'm excited. If you've got any straightforward questions around your immigration status, go ahead and ask the chatbot.

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🪄 UNveil: This week’s sponsor

​Were you among the 75% who got unlucky in the H-1B lottery? Enter MobSquad, your plan B. This Canadian company can help relocate within 4-6 weeks. Best part? You get to continue working with your current company, nearshore from Canada. Say goodbye to US work visa issues... forever. Book a free 1:1 call with the team!​

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​Want a free private consultation with an EB-5 expert? Awesome! We've got someone from LCR Capital flying into the Bay Area just to meet with you this week (Nov 16th-20th). LCR has helped over 1000 immigrants get green cards through the EB-5 investor route. Spots are limited to 20 people. Schedule your free consult here.

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👉 Want to put yourself in front of 9500+ high-skilled immigrants? Just hit reply to start a conversation.

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🥳 UNshackled: What's happening in the community?

Exciting update: I'm done recording interviews with 10 past recipients of the O1, EB1, and EB-2 NIW talent visas coming from all fields -- entrepreneurs, product managers, solar engineers, UX designers, and more. We're working on post-production now and will soon be launching these within our community as part of the "Extraordinary Visa Library."

Besides the above, here's what's been brewin' in our community the past week:

• ​Upcoming masterclass with yours truly: I'm doing my FIRST masterclass to help you get sh*t done toward your O1/EB1 visa goal. This is free for members -- but you can also join by paying $50. Bonus: you get a free copy of my book.
• ​Masterclass video library launched with 24 videos: I am so excited for this. We created short clips from all of our past masterclasses so you don't need to watch a 1-hour video anymore. Just watch a 5-min clip & get your insights!
• ​Would building an app be considered H1B employment? was one of the questions on our discussion forum last week!
• [Coming VERY soon] Case Study Library: Imagine if there was a library filled with case studies of past O-1/EB-1 recipients, sharing exactly how they got to the finish line. Coming soon.
• [Coming soon] O-1A self-assessment tool: I’m collaborating with the Schmidt Futures organization to build a tool that will give you a personalized roadmap for your O-1 journey. This will be free for all.
• We crossed 300 members :)

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Whenever you're ready to join the community, use this private link that lets you join for $539 ($60 off). Once you join, get access to top lawyers, O-1/EB-1 mentors, weekly events, & a roadmap to reach your goal.

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Until next week, stay lovely.

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Yours truly,

Soundarya 💚

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💡 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.

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💫 UNcover: Picks from the internet

• ​Visualized: Why Do People Immigrate to the U.S.?
• ​A Complete Guide to Money Management for Digital Nomads.
• ​For all immigrants, here are 17 tools -- job boards, VCs, sponsor info, and more

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