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I was just wondering if anyone out there has any knowledge(direct or indirect) of how easy/hard/impossible it is to get a law firm to sponsor a green card and if anyone does it, what the timeline usually looks like(how many years before you could raise it with the firm, how long if they agree it takes to actually get it)? Assume US law school, already have biglaw NYC job, working on an H1B and from a European country.

It takes about a year-ish to apply for and get an EB-2. I've only ever seen law firms sponsor partners but if they want to keep around an H1-B who is coming up on their 6th year, I can't see why a firm wouldn't work with you to keep you in the country.

Anonymous User wrote:It takes about a year-ish to apply for and get an EB-2. I've only ever seen law firms sponsor partners but if they want to keep around an H1-B who is coming up on their 6th year, I can't see why a firm wouldn't work with you to keep you in the country.

My understanding is that it can take longer than a year, although you might be able to get temporary work permits while the application is pending.

My thought is that if you are coming up on six years and the firm is considering you for a partnership position, then they will likely sponsor you. If you are coming up on six years and you're not being considered for partnership, it's unlikely they'll sponsor you considering you would only be around for another 1-2 years before you got squeezed out.

If you are not coming up on six years but just want them sponsor a greencard for you to allow you stay/work in the US after you leave the firm, I guess it would depend on how good your relationship is with the partner that would make such a decision, and it might be an uphill battle. From a strict business perspective, it makes more sense (IMO) to just sponsor an H1B visa until your 6th year, at which time they'll have a good idea whether they want to make you a partner (and thus sponsor a greencard). However, if the firm really likes you and your work, they might be willing to help you out a bit even if they aren't 100% about your partnership prospects at the firm. It might be difficult to get that cozy at an NYC branch of a biglaw firm, as you're likely to stand out less than at, say, a satellite branch.

I would raise the issue after you've cemented your (hopefully excellent) reputation at the firm, but in no event more than 4 years after you begin with the firm.

I'm a non-US citizen who has gone through visa-sponsorship (but not greencard sponsorship) at a law firm before, so feel free to PM me if you'd like.

zomginternets wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:It takes about a year-ish to apply for and get an EB-2. I've only ever seen law firms sponsor partners but if they want to keep around an H1-B who is coming up on their 6th year, I can't see why a firm wouldn't work with you to keep you in the country.

My understanding is that it can take longer than a year, although you might be able to get temporary work permits while the application is pending.

It can take longer but if you're on an H1-B, that gets extended past 6 years while you apply for the EB-2 as long as you file everything correctly and in time.

The V50 firm I summered at in NYC sponsored two third associates for green cards, but I don't know if thats their official policy or if those people were just brilliant/lucky.