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

257 points proberts | 7 comments | 16 May 25 15:05 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source | bottom

I'll be here for the next 5-6 hours. As usual, there are countless topics given the rapidly changing immigration landscape and I'll be guided by whatever you're concerned with. Please remember that I can't provide legal advice on specific cases because I won't have access to all the facts. Please stick to a factual discussion in your questions and I'll try to do the same in my answers.

Edit: I am taking a break now and will return later this afternoon/evening to respond to any comments and answer any questions. Thank you everyone for a great and engaged AMA so far.

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AndrzejNowak ◴[16 May 25 15:58 UTC] No.44006984[source]▶
If an individual is transgender, not a US citizen, and has a passport with an updated gender marker (or X), can they still get a visa? Or is submitting an official document with "wrong information" enough for a refusal?

What about existing visas?

replies(1): >>44008077 #
proberts ◴[16 May 25 17:47 UTC] No.44008077[source]▶
The short answer is Yes, this individual can still get a U.S. visa. But I'd still recommend that this person speak with an attorney before applying for a visa or traveling to the U.S.
replies(2): >>44013675 #>>44014688 #
1. I_am_tiberius ◴[17 May 25 12:01 UTC] No.44013675[source]▶
Do you find it normal that you have to recommend a person to speak with an attorney before traveling to a country?
replies(4): >>44013714 #>>44013746 #>>44013916 #>>44015013 #
2. ahoef ◴[17 May 25 12:10 UTC] No.44013714[source]▶
No need to be needlessly antagonizing or blaming.
replies(1): >>44014292 #
3. literallyroy ◴[17 May 25 12:18 UTC] No.44013746[source]▶
I’m not the person you’re replying to, but I’m interested in your response to your own question if you’re up for sharing.

My uninformed opinion if you want it: No, it’s not normal for someone to speak to an attorney before traveling. That question is a tad rigged though since I do find it normal to talk to an attorney if you’re doing something abnormal[0] to a legal document, especially to a legal document used to (ideally) rigorously confirm your identity.

[0] uncommon is likely a better choice of words, but I hope the added indirection isn’t necessary in this format of discussion

4. chongli ◴[17 May 25 12:48 UTC] No.44013916[source]▶
It's not normal. The vast majority of people travelling to other countries do not consult with an attorney before doing so. By recommending that someone consult an attorney Mr. Roberts has effectively cautioned this person against travelling to the US without politicizing the discussion.
5. dudefeliciano ◴[17 May 25 13:45 UTC] No.44014292[source]▶
how is the comment antagonizing or blaming anyone? it's a simple question that should make us think about what the US is becoming
replies(1): >>44016173 #
6. hermannj314 ◴[17 May 25 15:29 UTC] No.44015013[source]▶
I got a work visa to live in Luxembourg and a visa to work in India and in neither case did I consult with a lawyer, the process was well documented and easy to do.

It is a sign a deeply adversarial country if you send the signal you need legal consultation to work or live there.

7. AlecSchueler ◴[17 May 25 18:44 UTC] No.44016173{3}[source]▶
Questioning what the US becoming is what makes you antagonistic and a political enemy.