Inside Immigration with Nadia Yakoob Nadia Yakoob

In this episode, I discuss the monthly Visa Bulletin, which is issued by the U.S Department of State every month and provides information on which immigrant visa applications the government is working on. I go over the various categories of immigrant visas, the annual limits to the green cards available, what a priority date is and why there are different tables in the monthly visa bulletin.  With this podcast, I hope to help you understand the monthly visa bulletin so you can plan your permanent residence process better. 

In this episode, I discuss the J-1 visa for interns and trainees. The J-1 can be used for a variety of cultural exchange programs, and provides a pathway for foreign nationals to visit the United States to teach, study, conduct research, or receive on the job training.
I spoke with a Senior Associate of People Operations and a Product Design Intern from Verkada, a fast-growing startup in the Bay Area, about their experiences with the J-1 visa program. They share insights on recruiting interns from international schools, confirming that the intern is eligible for the J-1 visa, and the overall internship experience.

In this episode, we discuss options for foreign nationals on temporary employment-based visas whose employment has been terminated or who are concerned about possible termination.  
For common employment-based visas, including the H-1B, E, L, O and TN, employees have 60 calendar days from the last day of employment to find a new employer that can sponsor them for a visa or to apply for a change of status. I spoke with Leyla Mostafavi, an associate at my firm, on factors to consider when finding a new job, exact timing of the grace period, and options to consider if the employee is unable to find a new sponsoring employer.
While losing a job can feel very stressful, another job, most likely a better one, is around the corner.  Let this be a time to reflect on where you want to land next and set your goals accordingly. 

In this episode, I discuss the process and requirements for becoming a United States citizen through naturalization.  For lawful permanent residents, there are several advantages to becoming a US citizen, including access to federal benefits, protection from deportation, ability to live and work abroad, and the right to vote. Most countries now allow for dual citizenship, so I highly recommend considering naturalization. 

In this episode, I discuss the requirements for getting a green card based on extraordinary ability.  I invited a former client to share his experience with this process, including tips for when to get started, building a portfolio of evidence, deciding between self or employer sponsorship, and responding to a request for evidence.

In this episode, we will discuss how employers should test the US labor market in order to sponsor a foreign national worker for permanent residence ("green card").  I interview a former DOL attorney who worked at the agency for over 30 years before retiring to get his expert insights on the most common reasons for denial of the applications to fill a position with a foreign national worker, what options employers have to overcome these denials, and the challenges employers face today in testing the US labor market.