
Right here’s one other version of “Pricey Sophie,” the recommendation column that solutions immigration-related questions on working at expertise corporations.
“Your questions are very important to the unfold of data that enables folks all around the world to rise above borders and pursue their goals,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration legal professional. “Whether or not you’re in folks ops, a founder or searching for a job in Silicon Valley, I might like to answer your questions in my subsequent column.”
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Pricey Sophie,
The engineers that we’re attempting to recruit are more and more requesting that we sponsor them for inexperienced playing cards. I don’t have an HR background, however I’ve been assigned HR duties at our startup.
Are you able to give me a rundown of the inexperienced playing cards which might be accessible?
Is it doable to sponsor somebody for a inexperienced card with out them getting an H-1B or different visa first? Which inexperienced card is the quickest?
— Focusing on Expertise
Pricey Focusing on,
With the continuing and intensifying competitors for tech expertise within the wake of the Nice Resignation, I discover myself addressing questions like yours fairly often. That’s no shock: Turnover in tech final 12 months was remarkably increased than in well being care, based on the Harvard Business Review. Resignations throughout the tech business elevated 4.5% final 12 months in comparison with the earlier 12 months, whereas in well being care, resignations elevated 3.6%.
As you discover this course of, think about taking a look at inexperienced playing cards and different immigration assist not solely as a method to recruit candidates and retain workers, however as a chance to form your organization tradition. Now could be the time to current your organization as one which values innovation, variety, creativity, inclusivity and the safety and well-being of your workers. This may finally carry resilience to your organization.
Let’s get into it.
Which inexperienced card is the quickest?
Of all of the employment-based inexperienced playing cards, the EB-1A extraordinary capacity inexperienced card is the quickest possibility. This feature requires vital proof of accomplishment in your subject — which generally is a problem for some (extra particulars under).
The EB-1A is the quickest for 2 primary causes: It at the moment permits for Premium Processing, the place you’ll be able to pay $2,500 further and the federal government will adjudicate the petition in 15 calendar days, and, for folks topic to the India/China-green card backlogs, the EB-1 First Desire inexperienced card class all the time has probably the most motion and availability.
Excellent news for inexperienced card processing: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers simply introduced that it is going to be including premium processing to extra classes. This fiscal 12 months, it is going to be including a Premium Processing choice to each the EB-1C Multinational Supervisor and Government inexperienced card class in addition to the EB-2 Nationwide Curiosity Waiver inexperienced card class. Within the coming months, USCIS will launch this selection: It is possible for you to to pay a further $2,500, and USCIS will promise to adjudicate your I-140 petition in EB-1C or EB-2NIW in 45 (not 15!) days.

Picture Credit: Joanna Buniak / Sophie Alcorn (opens in a new window)