The Zeno Life: About Immigration and Immigrants Zeno

Danielle Goldman joins us in this episode to help us understand Cap-Exempt H1B visas, eligibility criteria, who should think about it, her work at Open Avenues, to help companies retain talent, and options available to those who don't get picked up in the H1B lottery.



About Danielle:

Danielle is Co-Founder and Executive Director at Open Avenues where she leads the organization's efforts to build career pathways in STEM and business for both foreign talent and U.S. students. The organization provides a unique work visa solution for foreign nationals, while educating students from colleges and universities across the country in high-demand fields. Open Avenues is demonstrating that value that foreign nationals bring to society and the economy when they are able to stay, work, and build in the U.S.

Prior to founding Open Avenues, Danielle worked at Rabin Martin, a boutique consulting firm based in New York City where she built social impact strategies, partnerships, and programs for Fortune 100 healthcare companies. Danielle is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and part of the 2019/2020 Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab Accelerator program at Babson College. She also serves on the boards of City Awake at the Boston Chamber of Commerce and the One Little Light Foundation. Danielle received her B.A. in Political Science and Managerial Studies from Vanderbilt University.



Links:

Website: https://www.openavenuesfoundation.org/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@openavenues4201

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellesgoldman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/open_avenues

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_open_avenues/

Zeno: gozeno.io/links



Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:49 Danielle's Background

03:41 Open Avenues Origin

06:47 H-1B Visa cap exempt problems

07:56 Visa Sponsor Types

11:07 What prevents people from applying?

13:16 Who should be applying?

15:54 Is a full-time position needed?

17:49 Evolution of Open Avenues model

26:52 Open Avenues Growth

30:21 Is Open Avenues self-sustaining?

33:11 Is there a numerical limit?

33:42 Common Reasons for not getting in the program

37:29 Using stories to change sentiments towards immigrants

40:07 How a foreign national changes the life of a US citizen

43:26 Are there other organizations like the Open Avenues?

44:47 Contacting Danielle Goldman

47:07 Q&A

52:03 Wrap up

In this episode, Sandeep Nair, President and CEO of Metquay, takes us through his journey as an immigrant who moved to the US to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams and started a bootstrapped venture against all odds. His story is evidence that it is possible to succeed in the US no matter what and that the business environment is welcoming to all.

Listen in, subscribe, and leave comments. Do you like this series of impact stories? Do you want us to continue?

Sandeep's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeepjsnair/

Metquay Website: https://www.metquay.com/

Zeno Links: https://gozeno.io/links

00:00 Introduction

01:23 Background and Story

06:02 Starting Metquay

07:23 What is Metquay?

10:22 Transitioning from India to US

12:41 Starting A Company in US

18:36 Advice About Starting a Company in US

20:11 Problems Faced

26:38 Status of Metquay

28:47 Finding The First Customers

31:20 Metquay's Customer Base

32:13 Bootstrapping vs Raising VC Capital

34:07 Advice When Starting a startup

37:13 Contacting Sandeep Nair

38:59 Wrapupa

In this information-packed episode, Nupur Dave talks about her own journey and decision to move back to India after 13 years in the US despite possessing a green card. She provides advice for others thinking about the same. When it's a good idea, and when it's not. Various factors that impact the decision and more!

Books:

Back Home: https://a.co/d/8eBShYO

Website:

www.nupurdave.in

Social Media:

https://www.instagram.com/nupurdaveauthor/

Nupur's Articles:

https://nupurdave.in/articles/survey-results-nris-returning-to-india-2

https://nupurdave.in/articles/whydoindianswanttomoveabroadbynupurdave

https://nupurdave.in/articles/why-nris-dont-get-a-job-in-india-here-are-tricks-to-land-a-job

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:29 Nupur's background

06:49 Mental health issues

08:56 Who wants to move back to India

13:13 What are the challenges that immigrants face

22:23 Current landscape of startups, tech sector and Infrastructure

25:06 Deciding a city to move to

27:09 When shouldn't you move

29:22 Will going back solve for loneliness?

32:52 Nupur's books

33:58 Q&A

35:50 Advice on keeping in touch with US

37:11 Advice to people who are stuck in green card backlog

39:50 Options for H-4 visa holders have

43:50 Education situation in India compared to US

45:53 Retiring early in India

48:29 Does children's grade level impact decision?

52:37 Average salary for someone with 15 years of experience and does international experience have value

55:12 Getting in touch with Nupur

56:44 Wrapup

In this conversation, we sit down with Alix Cayce of Legalpad to chat about her work at Legalpad, their unique focus on O-1 and EB-1A, and case studies of successful applicants from the tech sector.



Offer

Zeno subscribers receive a free work visa consultation and a $500 discount on U.S. work visa services. Sign up for a 1:1 consultation at the link below or contact Jeet Gauswami (jeet@legalpad.io) you need to get in touch with Legalpad.



About Alix Cayce

Alix is the Sales Manager for the North American Immigration team at Deel/ Legalpad. She has worked in the immigration space for the last 2.5 years and has helped hundreds of founders and employees move to the U.S. Originally from Seattle. She is now based in Huntington Beach, California, where she lives with her small family and their dog, Finn.



About Legalpad

Legalpad is transforming the U.S. work visa and green card process to be fast and easy. We exist to clarify the complex U.S. immigration landscape and provide scarce resources. Legalpad has helped hundreds of companies and individuals to secure work visas and green cards to accelerate growth in the U.S.



Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

01:26 - Alix's Background

04:14 - About Legalpad

06:43 - Which visas does Legalpad support

11:46 - What is O-1 visa

12:49 - Drawbacks of O-1

13:40 - When should H-1B holders pursue O-1

15:44 - Case studies of O-1 Visa in Tech Industry

21:43 - Case study of an OPT Holder who worked towards O-1

24:05 - Case study of an OPT Holder who is not a founder worked towards O-1

28:13 - What is EB-1A

30:34 - EB-1A Criteria

32:10 - Case studies of EB-1A

38:30 - How to Contact Legal Pad

40:55 - Resources

45:35 - Alix's message for immigrants

46:49 - Wrapup

In this interview, we sit down with Mandy Feuerbacher, a seasoned visa officer with years of experience in the industry. Mandy shares her insights on the common mistakes that people make during visa interviews, and offers practical tips on how to prepare and increase your chances of success. She also discusses the services offered by her company, Argo Visa, and when is the best time to get in touch with them for help with your visa process. If you're planning to apply for a visa, or if you've had difficulties in the past, don't miss this informative and helpful interview with Mandy Feuerbacher.  

Have questions about your visa interview? Book an appointment using this link:  https://preview.argovisa.com/applicant/home?widget_id=6397dd8125c3309762748761&referer=url [disclosure: affiliate link]  

Links: Argo Visa: http://www.argovisa.com/

Mandy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-feuerbacher-a7a557a/

The Daily Journal:  https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/369270-what-you-should-know-about-visa-interviews

Corporate Counsel Magazine: https://www.law.com/corpcounsel/2022/12/09/the-layoffs-are-here-what-it-means-for-employees-holding-h-1b-visas/?slreturn=20221116215847

Zeno Links: https://www.gozeno.io/links

In this conversation Soundarya gives practical tips and advise to visa holders who want to start companies or cut down their wait times for a green card

Soundarya is the author of Unshackled, an upcoming book aimed at helping skilled immigrants in America navigate immigration better. She's also the author of Admitted, ex-PM from Salesforce, and a graduate from Columbia University. Her blog has been read by over 200,000 people and videos watched over 1M+ times.

Soudarya's Links:

- https://curiousmaverick.com/

- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/why-indian-students-in-us-find-it-hard-to-fit-in/

- https://hackernoon.com/notion-a-product-that-users-love-and-vcs-cant-invest-into-2g1oe3zwq

Zeno's Links:

https://www.gozeno.io/links

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