Unshackled #76: My third book, Supreme court ruling, & EB1A course.


Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE],

Happy Wednesday. ✨

Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club. :)

BIG NEWS: This week, I launched news around my third book, "1000 Days of Love", a novel inspired by real experiences over the last 4 years in my life. I've been working on this for the past few years in bits and pieces, and will soon focus on writing it full-time. Click here if you'd like to become an early reader of it.

I have another big announcement coming next week -- stay tuned! ;)

Also, we've officially crossed 16,500 subscribers. Thank you for bringing your friends into our newsletter. 💚 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

Supreme Court Ruling May Reshape U.S. Immigration Policy

The recent Supreme Court decision striking down the Chevron doctrine could significantly impact U.S. immigration policy and asylum cases. TL;DR: The ruling essentially allows courts more freedom to interpret immigration statutes, potentially benefiting visa applicants and employers but also complicating deportation defense. AILA sees mixed outcomes, but the good news is, this could now reduce the number of EB-1A denials due to "final merits" determination (As shared by Sameer Khedekar, immigration lawyer)

H-1B Visa Holders Face New Challenges Amid USCIS Rule Changes and Tech Layoffs

USCIS will soon introduce rules stating that a master's in business administration is too general for H-1B specialty occupations, affecting new petitions and extensions. Tech layoffs are increasing, impacting H-1B workers who have 60 days to find new jobs. Green card processes must be expedited to avoid losing visa status after six years.

Ninth Circuit Revives Lawsuit Against Meta Over H-1B Hiring Practices

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit against Meta, accusing the company of preferring H-1B visa holders over U.S. citizens, which the plaintiff, Purushothaman Rajaram, claimed as discriminatory. The court's decision, based on 42 U.S.C. Section 1981, could impact H-1B visa policies and lead to more litigation against companies hiring foreign workers. The ruling contradicts a 1986 Fifth Circuit decision, potentially prompting a Supreme Court review if Meta appeals.

🎁 UNlock: Resources

[Live course] Six-week live course on EB-1A & O-1A by Lodestone Legal

[Early bird discount] Are you applying for an EB-1A, NIW, or O-1A visa? Lodestone Legal -- a law firm based out of Boston, MA -- is launching their flagship live course that starts July 30th. I will be one of the speakers on this course (along with a former USCIS officer) sharing techniques for you to build your brand online & obtain press. Each student will receive a comprehensive package of resources: private 1-on-1 consultation with an attorney; $1500 credit towards your case; feedback on your profile; a copy of Unshackled; 25% off Unshackled membership; feedback on your achievements & more. Register before July 16th and save $500.

[Paid masterclass] How to file your first patent for EB1A (ft. Sunku Ranganath)

[Discount ends this week!] Ready to file your first patent? Join our masterclass with Sunku, a principal product manager and expert in Edge computing & 5G infrastructure. Sunku secured an EB1A with 8 criteria and has mentored others since. He has presented at over 30 peer-reviewed conferences and written 35+ patent applications, resulting in 13 filed and 3 granted by the USPTO. Book your seats early for 25% off valid only for this week.

[Free guide] Startup Founder’s Guide to the O-1 Visa

Do you want to do your fundraising in the valley? Or be closer to your suppliers, manufacturing, or industry leaders? Or just be in the same time zone as your customers? There are plenty of reasons why a startup founder might want to move to the United States. This detailed guide will help you understand your visa options so that you can grow your company and career in the U.S. and travel whenever you need to. Get step-by-step instructions for applying for a work visa and tips to qualify.

💫 UNcover: Latest trends

🪄 UNveil: This week’s partner

Seeking to simplify your job search in today's market? Enter Scale.jobs! With scale.jobs, you can delegate job applications to skilled assistants, thus freeing your time for networking and interviews. Hundreds have landed their dream roles with scale.jobs so far. Connect with Scale.jobs today to seize control of your job search journey. Use the code "SOUNDARYA" to get $25 off on their offerings.

👉 Wanna put yourself in front of 16,500+ high-skilled immigrants? Just hit reply to start a conversation.

⚖️ Finally, looking to consult with a lawyer?

Finding a trusted, vetted lawyer is hard. We've done the hard work by curating a list of 8 top attorneys we recommend consulting with. Whether you're looking for an EB-1A profile evaluation or to set up your business as a student, this is for you. Book a consultation today!

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 & join 2500 immigrants. 🚀

Until next week, stay superb.

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.

If you didn’t enjoy the email you can always unsubscribe here.

To change your email or preferences manage your profile.

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205

Don’t waste your time and money trying to keep up with U.S. immigration.

Join 25000+ immigrants who get a careful curation of breaking news, free webinar invites & latest trends on immigration every week. (5 min/week)

Read more from Don’t waste your time and money trying to keep up with U.S. immigration.

Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE], Happy Wednesday ✨ Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club. :) 🥳 Announcing: "The Extraordinary Lounge" at the Unshackled Conference 2025. Some of the confirmed talent visa holders for the Extraordinary Lounge include: Mridula Bontha Neha Bansal Parul Pratik Karki Anu Ramakrishnan Sai Tarun Spandana Shikhar Kwatra Mayank Bansal Vinay Prabhu Vish and 40+ more amazing talent visa holders all in one room - a rare opportunity to connect, learn, and be...

Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE], Happy Wednesday ✨ Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club & co-founder of greencard.inc. :) We launched "EB1Shaadi.com" on April 1st as a prank. But, it got us thinking... can we set up a speed dating event for immigrants at our conference, for real? 🥳 Announcing: "The Immigrant Dating Lounge" at the Unshackled Conference 2025. Attend the largest speed dating event for immigrants this August in the Bay Area. This is NOT only for those with O1/EB1 visas....

Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE], Happy Wednesday ✨ Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club & co-founder of greencard.inc. :) BIG NEWS: We’ve hit 250+ attendees for the Unshackled Conference, August 15-16, 2025! To celebrate, get 20% off the Basic or Executive Pass valid only until this Friday, 11:59 PM PT. Use code UAC20 to claim your discount. Here’s who you’ll meet: 50+ standout EB1/O1 visa holders 40+ expert speakers 50+ immigrant influencers you follow on social media 10+ top...