←back to thread

I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

183 points proberts | 1 comments | 17 Oct 24 16:01 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source

I'll be here for the few hours and then again at around 1 pm PST for another few hours. As usual, there are countless possible topics and I'll be guided by whatever you're concerned with. Please remember that I can't provide legal advice on specific cases for obvious liability reasons because I won't have access to all the facts. Please stick to a factual discussion in your questions and comments and I'll try to do the same in my answers. Thanks!

Previous threads we've done: https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=proberts.

Show context
notanadvice ◴[17 Oct 24 18:52 UTC] No.41872619[source]▶
Hi Peter, I’m an employee at big tech in an L1 VISA in the US. I’d like to know what happens if I get laid-off. Will I have a chance of finding another job. How much time will I have before leaving the country?

I’ve heard I can get a green card via significant US investment. How much does that requires? Can I stay in the US while the process is ongoing?

replies(2): >>41874040 #>>41874499 #
1. giobox ◴[17 Oct 24 22:34 UTC] No.41874499[source]▶
Back when I was working on an L1, I continually lobbied my employer to apply for an H1B for me to give me more options in the event of losing a job, or even just the ability to change employer at all really. This is one of the most significant downsides of the L1 visa IMO, the options are comparatively limited/difficult if you do lose your job. Its biggest plus over the H1 is of course no lottery though, which is why employers that can use the L1 like it etc.

As I understand it, your employer can apply for the H1B lottery every year for you while still on the L1. Some companies will do this, eventually I did get the H1B I wanted back then. My colleagues on L1 all did the same thing too.