Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE],

Happy Wednesday. ✨

Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club. :)

Exciting news: We're planning to open up scholarships to students on F-1/OPT/STEM OPT visas to join the Unshackled community as lifetime members! We understand that students don't have the same earning capacity as a working professional, and want to help more immigrants get talent visas. If you're a student, or know someone who is, stay tuned and make sure to open next week's newsletter -- we'll be offering scholarships on a first come first serve basis.

Now, onto the newsletter.

This week's TL;DR

• Future of H-1B visa program in question amid policy changes for foreign workers​
• Free webinar: The new J-1 visa early career STEM research initiative​
• Webinar recording: How I got the EB-1A as a life science professional​

📌 UNfold: Breaking news

​H-1B visa program faces uncertain future as Wage Rules stall

The future of the H-1B visa program is uncertain due to policy changes and legal challenges. The 2020 wage rule introduced by the Trump administration increased salaries for H-1B holders by up to 200%, making hiring difficult. This rule faced legal challenges and was invalidated. The Biden administration has not pursued further wage increases, leaving the program's future unclear. However, this could change if Donald Trump is elected as President.

​Additional H-1B lottery conducted to meet FY 2025 regular cap​

USCIS conducted an additional H-1B lottery drawing for FY 2025 on August 5, 2024, to meet the 65,000 regular cap. Initially, 114,017 registrations were selected from around 442,000 total, but more were needed. Employers with newly selected registrations were notified via USCIS online accounts. (No additional selections were made for the advanced degree exemption, as the 20,000 visa quota was already met.)

​USCIS introduces new online form I-131F for keeping families together​

Starting August 19, 2024, USCIS will accept requests using the new electronic Form I-131F for parole in place for certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens. This is done as part of the "Keeping Families Together" initiative. The form will be available online only, and a filing guide has been published to assist applicants.

🎁 UNlock: Relevant Resources

​[Webinar recording] The road to extraordinary ability: My EB1A story (ft. Hemadri Doma)​

Here's an AMA recording from our very own Unshackled member Hemadri Doma who got his EB-1 A approved just a few weeks ago! Hemadri Doma is a seasoned Life Science professional with over 9 years of expertise in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. He has navigated roles in Engineering, Facilities, IT, QC laboratory systems, Process Automation, Validation, and Quality processes. In this session, Hemadri shared valuable insights from his successful journey!

​[Free webinar] The new J-1 visa early career STEM research initiative (Sep 11, 2024, 10:30 AM PST)​

Curious about the new J-1 Visa Early Career STEM Research Initiative? A webinar is being hosted with Fiona McEntee, J.D., to explore how this program is creating exciting opportunities for both U.S. organizations and international STEM workers. Whether you're a company looking to collaborate with global talent or a STEM worker interested in U.S. research opportunities, this session will be helpful.

​[Podacast] Have Biden’s border plans succeeded?​

In this podcast, Michelle Hackman, a US immigration reporter at the Wall Street Journal talks about the recent decline in border crossings and to what extent this can be credited to the Biden Administration and its cooperation with Mexico. The podcast also touches upon the “Keeping Families Together” program which grants parole in place to certain noncitizen spouses and noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens, and was implemented this week.

💫 UNcover: Latest trends

• ​Anuj Christian is raising funds to end discriminatory country caps.
• Trump’s win: Disaster for H-1B visas in US?​
• Essential 'Do Not Pack' List before you come to the U.S.

🪄 UNveil: This week’s partner

​Want to securely move & store your stuff? Check out Clutter. A startup based in the Bay Area, they help you with all of your packing, moving, and storage needs at a price that's affordable. I used Clutter to pack and store my stuff as I am leaving the country for a few months. The process was as simple & easy as it could've been, with excellent customer support. Use the code TXXRFJ to get $100 off when you sign up!​

👉 Wanna put yourself in front of 17,000+ 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 5 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!​

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.

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