Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE],
Happy Wednesday. ✨
Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club. :)
EXCITING NEWS: You can now join me in person and attend a FREE event on talent visas & immigration that we're hosting across the country. We got permission from several universities to make the event public and open to everyone in the area.
So if you're living in New York, SF Bay Area, Boston, or Dallas, come RSVP for free below & enjoy an evening of education, networking, and free snacks!
The New York event is happening next week Friday, April 5th! If you know a friend who is an international student or immigrant on a visa, tell them about it. We already have 150 RSVPs, and we're closing it at 200!
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
USCIS has closed the initial registration period for the Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B cap season on March 25, 2024. Now they're onto selecting beneficiaries for filing the H-1B cap-subject petitions. Additionally, USCIS has implemented new rules regarding the filing location, fees, and edition of Form I-129 for H-1B and H-1B1 petitions starting April 1, 2024. Make sure to understand and follow these rules so your application doesn't get rejected!
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.
Canada Increases Cap for Open Work Permits for Applicants Who Applied in 2023
If you remember, Canada announced something called an "open work permit" for people on H-1B visas. They launched it with a cap of 10,000 in July 2023. Not surprisingly the cap of 10,000 was reached within a day! Now, Canada has announced that they will be processing work permits for some H-1B visa holders who had applied for the pilot program before the deadline, but were unsuccessful because of the announced cap. The initiative aims to attract skilled professionals to Canada's tech sector and address talent shortages.
🎁 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 Guide] How to apply for the O-1 Visa to the United States
Check out this free, complete guide on how to apply for the O-1 visa. It covers everything from what is the O-1, who should apply, what are its requirements, and how you can build your profile.
💫 UNcover: Latest trends
🪄 UNveil: This week’s partners
Are you anxiously awaiting your fate in the H-1B visa lottery? Ease your worries by creating a backup plan with MobSquad. MobSquad helps tech professionals with US work visa issues stay in North America and continue supporting their current company, nearshore from Canada, visa stress-free. In as little as 4 weeks, they obtain Canadian work permits for you and your family, and put you on a path to Canadian permanent residency. book a free 1:1 call with the team at MobSquad!
Want a free consultation with a top law firm? Enter Bay Immigration Law. BIL is a boutique immigration law firm with clients all over the world! They primarily work with entrepreneurs, startups, and companies looking to scale & bring their employees to America. If you're aiming to get an O-1, EB-1, or EB-2 NIW, especially as a founder, check out BIL. Best part? Email info@bayimmigrationlaw.com for a free consultation to kick things off!
👉 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.