Unshackled #60: O-1 for bloggers, H-1B is ending, & India sets record!


Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE],

Happy Wednesday. ✨

Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club. :)

FINAL REMINDER: We're increasing the membership cost of the Unshackled community on March 22nd, 2024. This is done as part of a larger effort to revamp the Unshackled website and community to make it even better for talent visa aspirants! After March 22nd,

  • The annual membership cost will increase from $599/year to $999/year.
  • There will no more be a "biannual membership", and
  • Instead, you'll see a new tier called the "Quarterly membership" which will cost $399/quarter.

If you were planning to file an O1/EB1/NIW sometime in 2024, now's a great time to join 370 others in the community and save $400!

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

H-1B Visa Registration Ends March 22: USCIS Alert

It's almost coming to an end! The H-1B initial lottery registration for FY25 will end on March 22nd, 2024. This year, the entire process is electronic, starting from the registration till you get your final result. If you haven't filed your application yet, you still have a few days left to get it done. All the very best if you've already filed!

Indian Students Set F-1 Visa Record in the US: 130,839 Visas Issued in 2023

Indian students received a record number of F-1 student visas in the US in 2023, totaling 130,839, marking a 14% increase from the previous year. The surge signifies the second consecutive year where Indian students secured the most US student visas, outstripping other countries. The total F-1 visas issued in the US in 2023 reached approximately 446,000, the highest in a single year since 2016. Higher education is certainly not slowing down!


April 2024 Visa Bulletin: Good News for EB-1 Indian Nationals

Good news: the final action dates for EB-1 move forward by 5 months for Indian nationals from October 1st, 2020 to March 1st, 2021. The EB-1 dates for Chinese nationals also moved forward by 1.5 months to September 2022. For all other countries, EB-1 remains current. Even the EB-2 and EB-3 categories move by a month for Indian nationals.

🎁 UNlock: Webinar invites & resources

[Free Webinar] From Viral to Global: O-1 Visas for Influencers & Content Creators (April 17th, 10.30 PM PST)

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!

2025 H1B Online Registration: Step-by-Step Process & FAQs

As you read the news above, H-1B cap season is on in the United States. Registrations for the fiscal year 2025 opened on March 6 and will close on the 22nd. The application procedure has changed significantly, and you need to understand exactly how the new process works before you file something. Check out this article that takes you through the step-by-step process and addresses FAQs.

💫 UNcover: Latest trends

🪄 UNveil: This week’s partners

Are you a student founder or an aspiring entrepreneur? Book a FREE, 30-minute consult with Charles Gillman, an accomplished immigration lawyer with three decades of experience. Charles is a Partner at Gonzalez Olivieri LLC, a well-regarded law firm based in Houston, Texas. Charles will take you through the available options to build your company on an H-1B, O-1, IEP, and more. This is a limited-time offer, so be sure to make good use of it!

Ready to ditch the confusion and take charge of your immigration journey? Connect with Poonam Gupta, a strategic immigration lawyer! Have a compassionate legal counsel by your side – one who understands not just the legalities, but the human story behind them. Poonam will help you create a tailored roadmap for your American dream, no matter what path you want to take. Book a free strategy session with Poonam.

👉 Want to put yourself in front of 11,000+ high-skilled immigrants? Just hit reply to start a conversation.

Are you an O1/EB1 aspirant? Claim your free course on talent visas.

I've launched a free, 5-day course on "Intro to Talent Visas in America." This is for you if you want to escape the H-1B lottery or the 100-year green card backlog and secure your future in America based on merit. Simply click here to start the course today, and join 1000+ immigrants. 🚀

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.

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