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Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE],

Happy Wednesday. ✨

Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club. :)

We wrapped up the Unshackled Campus Tour this week on Monday with a free party in Palo Alto! So glad I could meet some of you there.

I'm writing an op-ed based on the country-wide tour to be published in NDTV (and other top publications). On that, I'd love to quote a few international students and immigrant workers who feel strongly about the immigration system and have gone through struggles to navigate it. If you'd like to contribute your story, click here to fill in a 2-minute form. I'll reach out to you later this week if I plan to quote you! :)

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Also, we've crossed 15,000+ subscribers in our newsletter. Welcome to all the new folks! Now, onto the newsletter.

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This week's TL;DR

• You can now sue employers charged with fraud.
• ​[April 29th] Free webinar: winning scholarships as an intl. student.
• ​Submit your immigration story to be quoted in my article.

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📌 UNfold: Breaking news

​U.S. Court Decision Empowers H-1B Visa Holders to Take Legal Action Against Alleged Employer Fraud​

A federal judge's ruling affirms H-1B visa holders' right to pursue legal action against visa revocation stemming from employer fraud. The case highlights concerns over insufficient notice from USCIS and the potential jeopardy faced by visa holders due to their employers' past misconduct. USCIS's efforts to combat fraud include updates to the H-1B lottery process, targeting entities exploiting the system. This is good news for immigrant workers as it protects them from unjust consequences, signaling a step toward fair treatment in immigration matters.

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​Record Numbers of H-1B Visa Holders Changing Employers!​

A surge in H-1B visa holders switching employers has been recorded, with over 1 million job changes between 2005 and 2023. In 2023 alone, 117,153 transitions occurred, slightly lower than the previous year's peak. Lack of loyalty, particularly with Indian consulting firms, is cited as a primary reason, with employees feeling exploited by high commissions. Efforts to retain talent include keeping bill rates open for long-term employees.

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​Is the American Dream Fading? Challenges for Migration, Especially for Indians​

The American dream appears distant for those seeking migration, notably Indians, due to stringent immigration policies. David J Bier's study reveals only a 3% approval rate for Green Card applications in FY2024, with a backlog of nearly 34.7 million applications. Indians face extensive waiting periods, with some waiting over a century for a Green Card due to country caps. Despite promises of reform, political focus remains on border control, leaving the fate of legal immigrants uncertain.

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🎁 UNlock: Webinar invites & resources

​[Free Webianr] How to win scholarships as a First Gen and International Student (April 29th, 5.30 PM CST)​

​If you're an international or first-generation student and are looking for ways to secure scholarships, this is for you! This webinar will dive deep into ways you can search for scholarships and how you can apply for them. ​

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​EB-2 NIW Made Simple: Step-by-Step Guide and Sample Business Plan for Self-Petitioners​

If you're curious about and aiming for an EB-2 NIW visa, a well-crafted business plan is essential. This comprehensive guide offers a sample plan and detailed instructions for each section. Covering everything from executive summary to supporting documents, it provides insights and examples to help you demonstrate your national interest and substantial benefit to the United States!

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​[Free Community] New Slack Community for All Things Canada​

Considering Canada, but having starting trouble? My friend and fellow immigration-advocate Sindhu Mahadevan has launched a free Slack community - the Immigrant Hub of Canada. The community will provide an extended free trial to Sindhu's newsletter and other resources including webinars, AMA sessions, and a shared community of people navigating Canadian immigration.

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💫 UNcover: Latest trends

• Trump called H-1B very bad for the US, and now his company applies for it!
• ​Can I work in the United States as an immigrant?​

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⚖️ 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!​

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🪄 UNveil: This week’s partners

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!

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​Transform messy notes into clear text with Audiopen: Want a tool that effortlessly transforms messy voice notes into clear reworded text? Audiopen is your ally! It's an AI-powered web app that acts like your assistant who is ready to transcribe what you say into notes that make sense. I've been using it for a year now to record everything from meeting notes to journaling to brainstorming an idea. Try it for free!​

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👉 Want to put yourself in front of 15,000+ high-skilled immigrants? Just hit reply to start a conversation.

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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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