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I'm currently a non-resident alien and applying to law schools. I'm interested in a career in patent law, but I'm worried that I'll have great difficulty finding a job because technically only green card holders (or citizens) can practice. How often do patent law firms hire and sponsor foreigners for a green card?

alyosha_k wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 29, 2022 9:37 am

I'm currently a non-resident alien and applying to law schools. I'm interested in a career in patent law, but I'm worried that I'll have great difficulty finding a job because technically only green card holders (or citizens) can practice. How often do patent law firms hire and sponsor foreigners for a green card?

Not really. The usual path is to apply for an H1B first. Big Laws typically sponsor those. As a JD, you get 2 chances in the lottery, 1 in your 3L year, and the other a year after. You can use a 1-year OPT after graduation to work in the U.S. while still on F1 visa. H1Bs are 3-year work visas. I believe you can auto-renew it for another 3 years. A lot more firms sponsor green cards for their mid-levels and seniors. Some firms will transfer their juniors who didn't get the H1B lottery to an international office, and keep trying for the H1B, or use a L1 visa to bring them back. These policies vary a lot, but there are a lot of NRAs working in the legal field. It's gonna be harder for you, but far from impossible.