I started my practice in 2003, almost 17 years ago, and so I went through and came out the other end of the last recession in 2009-2011. It was brutal, to say the least, but we made it through. As an immigration law firm, I was able to see first-hand which aspects of the practice was being hit the most, and which areas seemed to be unaffected. So, I’d like to share my thoughts with you as we brace for another recession.
The areas of my practice that was hit the most was the L-1A Intra-company transfer visa, because businesses had difficulties pressing on with their expansion plans if they saw the market for their products and services contracting. E-2 Investment visa applications went down because at that time many of my clients were reliant on the equity in their homes to raise the capital they needed to make their investment into a U.S. business. H-1B graduate visa applications went down as many U.S. companies hired less. Even green cards by marriage went down due to economic uncertainty.
The one area of my practice that did not go down, but instead expanded was the EB-1 Self-Sponsored green card. In hindsight, the answer was very simple. A business’ most valuable commodity is its workforce, and the most valuable members of its workforce are the most talented workers. Therefore, if a company has to downsize, even a little, it’s going to let go its least valuable employees, not its most valuable employees. EB-1 candidates, by definition are those most valuable employees who have reached the very top of their profession.
However, most of these top professionals were on H-1B visas, with an EB-2 employer- sponsored green card, and thus not in the most safe position. So what they would do is jump onto the EB-1 Self-Sponsored green card path, using their approved EB-2 priority date, if they had one, to ensure that when their EB-1 was approved, that green card could be issued almost immediately. So, since 2011 our law firm has been an EB-1 Self-sponsored green card specialist law firm, not by choice, per se, but by market forces. We just got very good at doing them.
Since, 2011 we have re-captured the L-1 Intra-company transfer business, the E-2 investment business and other visa types, but by far and away our law firm handles EB-1 Self-Sponsored green cards more than ever. We have built up such a fantastic reputation that we regularly get referrals from clients at many of the major tech companies such as Facebook, Amazon AWS, Netflix, Microsoft, Google, PayPal, etc. We also get a lot of Oil and Gas engineers looking to secure their own green cards. Check out our EB-1 Approvals Gallery.
Here is what I’m saying, unemployment is the lowest in the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field. Yes, there is some unemployment, but it’s very low indeed as compared to the less skilled sectors of the market. STEM workers are the most in-demand employees in the U.S. as there is always a chronic shortage of them.
Unfortunately, too many H-1B visas holders are stuck on their H-1Bs, often lacking the confidence to think that they might qualify for an EB-1 Self-Sponsored green card. Here is my answer to those people: if you make six figures, have an advanced degree and willing to put some work into building up your professional profile by obtaining Fellowships in professional organizations, e.g., the IEEE etc., getting involved in peer-reviewing technical papers and perhaps writing a few technical articles yourself, you can indeed qualify for anEB-1 Self-Sponsored green card. We can guide you every step of the way.
You need to get off your H-1B asap because you are not only vulnerable in that position, but your true market worth cannot be realized if companies cannot compete for your services. You absolutely need a green card. I’ve seen many of my client’s earnings double if not triple once they got their green cards, let alone a ton of stress fall off their shoulders.
If you want to find out if you qualify for an EB-1 Self Sponsor green card, please get in touch today, and we’ll do a free complete evaluation and then you can go from there.
The Coronavirus is awful, but we are not powerless in our response. It’s an opportunity to force you to really secure your immigration situation and do something positive about it. Do not leave your family’s immigration security in the hands of your employer, you need to own this for yourself.
I wish you all the very best. Please stay safe, stick to social distancing and all the other safety advice out there.
P.S. I have a lot more to write on other topics, I’ll try and get another newsletter out asap.
US Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram Chris M. Ingram LL.M., ESQ – Immigration Attorney Admitted in New York. Practice Specializing in US Immigration Law 401 Wilshire Boulevard, 12th Floor, [Cross Streets 4th and Wilshire] Santa Monica, California 90401 Tel: 310 496 4292
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Specializing in the E2 Visa, EB1 Green Card, L-1A Visa and O1 Visa and K1 Visa Marriage-Based Immigration. Attorney Chris M. Ingram is dedicated to providing the very best in US Immigration legal representation. Enjoy our website.
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