Unshackled: A Practical Guide for Highly-Skilled Immigrants to Thrive in the United States

by Soundarya Balasubramani, Anaik Alcasas (editor), Sameer Khedekar

“Immigration in America is simple,” said no one, ever.Here’s the immigration laws in America have not been updated significantly in over four decades. The chance of getting picked in the H-1B lottery was less than 10% in 2023. And, there are over a million immigrant workers waiting in a green card backlog today.Yet, despite these constraints, immigrants have done extraordinary things. With Unshackled, we aim to lower the barrier so you can too.Unshackled will give you a friendly map of the legal immigration system as it exists today in the United States. Whether you want to start companies, obtain a talent visa like the O-1 and EB-1, or decide that this country is not a fit, the book will be your trusted companion. Through vivid stories and personal accounts, the book also unearths the raw emotions of frustration, loneliness, and self-doubt that underscore every immigrant's journey to remind you that you're not alone. With beautiful illustrations and infographics, Unshackled is as much a treat to your eyes, as it is to your mind. Go on and take a look inside!When you purchase Unshackled, you get access to the Guidance to navigate 11 visa pathways, including the O-1, EB-1A, EB-1B, L-1, H-1B, F-1 OPT, and more. We’ve shared insights from some of the best lawyers out there, written in simple, engaging language.Stories of 11 high-skilled immigrants, each of whom had walked an unconventional path and remind you that you’re not alone. Expect to tear up at some point!Access to free resources on top of the book, including a Notion tracker to build your O-1 or EB-1 profiles, short videos answering top questions around EB-1A, a list of VC funds that support immigrant founders, and more.Free invites to all future webinars and events conducted within the Unshackled online commu

369 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

Soundarya Balasubramani (aka Pooja) is a 2x author of Unshackled and Admitted, creator of unshackled.club, and the founder of The Curious Maverick, LLC. Soundarya graduated from Columbia University in 2019 and worked at Salesforce as a Product Manager for 2.5 years before quitting to become a founder.