Unshackled #96: H-4 EAD under Trump, founder guide, & free webinar.


Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE],

Happy Wednesday. ✨

Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club & co-founder of greencard.inc. :)

Exciting update: After months of backend work, we're excited to launch the flagship course for talent visas on EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and O-1A today. I sat down with Attorney Allison Kranz to record over 60+ modules covering these three extraordinary visas, asking every question that you can imagine! Use the code "EARLYSUPPORTER" to get 20% off on the purchase as a thank you for being a subscriber :)


Also, thanks to VMNY for sponsoring this newsletter & making it free for 22,000+ people! If you're looking for a solution to help edit your raw videos to publish online, try VMNY.

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

H4 EAD might be challenged again under second Trump term

With a potential second Trump term and Republican control of Congress, the H4 EAD program for H-1B spouses may face another risk of being challenged. Introduced in 2015, the program has been targeted before under Trump’s “Buy American, Hire American” initiative. Changes could come through executive action or legislation, leading to processing delays, reinstated biometrics, or loss of automatic extensions. H-4 spouses are advised to apply or renew EADs now and consider upgrading I-140 petitions to premium processing.

Amazon overtakes Infosys and TCS as top H-1B sponsor in 2024

Amazon has become the top H-1B visa sponsor in 2024, surpassing Infosys and TCS with 9,265 approvals. However, H-1B sponsorships have declined across major tech companies, including Google, Meta, and Microsoft. Indian nationals still represent over 72% of H-1B recipients. Many firms, including Indian IT giants, are shifting focus to local hiring and green card sponsorships. USCIS data also reveals significant approval drops for most of the top 15 sponsoring companies.

Indians google "H-1B"; Americans search for ways to leave U.S.

Following Trump’s election win on November 6, 2024, Google searches in India for "legal immigration" and "H1B visa" surged, reflecting concerns about stricter immigration policies under Trump and advisor Stephen Miller. In Democratic-leaning U.S. states like Vermont and Minnesota, searches for "how to move to Canada" spiked, while Republican states searched for birth control options, amid fears of further restrictions on abortion rights.

🎁 UNlock: Relevant Resources

[Weekly Webinar] Building a strong profile for talent visas [ft. Soundarya & Nikin Tharan] Dec 3rd, 06:30 PM PST

We kicked off a free weekly webinar last week where Nikin Tharan (my co-founder & EB-1A recipient) and I showed up to address all your questions. This will be happening every Tuesday from 6:30 PM PST to 7:30 PM PST. It's been so fun to meet some of you, answer your questions, & talk about the EB-1A Copilot program. Join for the next week's one right away & claim your spot!

[Free Recording] The Road to Extraordinary Ability: My EB1A Story (ft. Hemadri Doma)

In this webinar, Unshackled member Hemadri Doma, an EB-1A recipient, shares his journey to success. With over nine years of experience in Life Sciences, Hemadri discusses his path to securing a talent visa and highlights key criteria for EB-1A eligibility. Don’t miss his valuable insights on navigating the immigration process and achieving career milestones.

[Free Guide] In-depth Guide on International Entrepreneur Parole

We'll be releasing chapters of my book, Unshackled, over the coming months. We're kicking off with the chapter on the IEP, a parole program perfect for aspiring immigrant founders. The IEP was introduced through an executive order and finally published in 2021. If you're looking to raise money and build a company in America, read this - and make sure to pass it around!

💫 UNcover: Latest trends

🪄 UNveil: This week’s partner

Transform raw footage into professional videos: If you're looking for a solution to help edit your raw videos to publish online, enter VMNY. Best part? Vmny takes 48 hours to transform any raw footage into professional videos. Co-founded by Dabboo Ratnani (Bollywood celebrity photographer), VMNY’s on-demand subscription-based service is built by editors with over 10 years of experience, ensuring top-notch quality. Take your shot with VMNY.

👉 Wanna put yourself in front of 22,000+ 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!

Are you an EB-1/NIW/O-1 aspirant? Join our flagship course for $299 taught by an attorney.

We've launched three flagship courses consisting of 60+ in-depth modules that walk through every step of filing and getting an EB-1A, NIW, and O-1A. Don't worry though—there's little legal jargon. 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. Click here to join for $299 today. 🚀

Until next week, stay awesome.

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 visit the Unshackled lawyer directory with vetted lawyer recommendations.

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Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE], Happy Wednesday. ✨ Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club & co-founder of greencard.inc. :) This will be the FINAL edition of the year. And through some cosmic beauty, we will be beginning next year with the 100th edition—which is insane to think about. So obviously, you can expect some giveaways ;) Also, if you have 30 seconds, hit reply and answer this ONE question for me: what can we add to the newsletter that'll be genuinely helpful for you? We'll...

Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE], Happy Wednesday. ✨ Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club & co-founder of greencard.inc. :) Exciting update: We're hosting an end-of-the-year, free party in the Bay Area to bring the immigrant community together. If you're free on December 28th, come join us! While I won't be there unfortunately (since I'm in India), you'll get to meet 50+ others along with my co-founder and EB-1A recipient, RK. Light refreshments will be served. Spots are limited....

Hi [FORMATTED_FIRST_NAME GOES HERE], Happy Wednesday. ✨ Soundarya here, founder of unshackled.club & co-founder of greencard.inc. :) Exciting update: We're hosting an end-of-the-year, free party in the Bay Area to bring the immigrant community together. If you're free on December 28th, come join us! While I won't be there unfortunately (since I'm in India), you'll get to meet 50+ others along with my co-founder and EB-1A recipient, RK. Light refreshments will be served. Spots are limited....