Area 51

By: Rahul Menon & Sanjay Krishna
  • Summary

  • It's just immigration, it's not rocket science, or is it? If you're a visa / “temporary” status holder in the US and have often found that it was easier navigating through the politics of Game of Thrones than understand the US immigration system, you're not alone. In this podcast, we aim to talk about the problems we face as immigrants here. The way we see it, we're all in for a long 20+ year long (some even up to 436 years!) rollercoaster ride waiting for our Green Cards, dealing with the dizzying highs of getting approved visas to the stomach-dropping lows of dealing with government bureaucracy and 221g’s. Add in a few more flavors such as Trump, COVID-19, layoffs and recessions to this quagmire of a maze, and we may as well be living the Hunger Games in pursuit of permanent residency in the US. We realized early on that whining about this situation can only get us so far. The more we educate ourselves and others about the system, the better armed we are to beat the system. And if we can all have a few laughs along the way, we might just be able to make process a little more fun.

    © 2024 Area 51
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Episodes
  • Improve The Dream... or Nightmare?
    Oct 28 2024

    Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Dip Patel, the visionary founder of Improve the Dream, as he unveils the untold story of America's "Documented Dreamers"—children who grew up legally in the United States but face deportation upon turning 21.

    Key Highlights:
    - Understand the paradox of Documented Dreamers: legally present since childhood yet aging out of status
    - Learn about the America's Children Act and its bipartisan support in Congress
    - Explore the challenges faced by Documented Dreamers
    - Discover Improve the Dream has set the gold standard in immigration advocacy
    - Find out how you can support over 200,000+ young immigrants fighting for their American dream

    Featured Guest: Dip Patel, a former documented Dreamer and founder of Improve The Dream, shares his personal journey from visa uncertainty to founding a movement that's changing the national conversation on immigration reform.

    Dive deep into the complex world of immigration as Dip reveals:
    - The emotional and psychological impact of living in visa limbo
    - Strategic approaches to building bipartisan support for immigration reform
    - How Improve the Dream mobilized a nationwide community of advocates
    - The power of social media in amplifying immigrant voices
    - The Country Caps Debate and whether it should be prioritized over America's Children Act
    - Practical steps for turning advocacy into meaningful legislative change

    Why This Matters: With over 200,000+ Documented Dreamers at risk of deportation, this episode highlights a critical yet overlooked aspect of America's immigration system. Learn how these young immigrants are fighting to preserve their American dreams while advocating for systematic reform.

    Support Improve the Dream: improvethedream.org

    Connect With Us
    - Follow Area 51 Podcast: a51podcast.com
    - X: https://x.com/Area51cast
    - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearea51podcast/

    If you want to say hi or have an idea for a podcast episode, this is an easy way for you to reach out. We’ll be more than happy to hear from you!

    If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to show us some love by giving us a rating and writing a review!







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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Unshackling Soundarya
    Sep 5 2024

    Soundarya Balasubramani arrived in the United States like many others, armed with ambition and a visa. But that's where the similarities end. Rather than following the well trodden path of climbing the corporate ladder, she's carved out a very unique trajectory that defies expectations. From excelling as a Product Manager at tech giant Salesforce, to becoming a published author of two influential books on immigration and finally to founding her own startup, Unshackled, Soundarya has constantly pushed boundaries.

    In this very revealing episode, we peel back the layers of Soundarya Balasubramani's public persona and take a look at the unseen chapters of her life. Tune in to hear a very personal journey behind her success where we talk about loneliness, family, mentorship, her next book '1000 Days of Love' and the recent merger of Unshackled with Greencard Inc and many more.

    This episode goes beyond immigration advice. It offers a rare glimpse into the emotional and intellectual landscape of someone who's turned her challenges into a mission to help others. Join us for a conversation that's as inspiring as it is intimate, revealing the true heart behind the Unshackled movement.

    If you want to say hi or have an idea for a podcast episode, this is an easy way for you to reach out. We’ll be more than happy to hear from you!

    If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to show us some love by giving us a rating and writing a review!







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    1 hr
  • O Canada, Can You Let Me Work?
    Jun 19 2024

    One of the biggest impediments in moving to Canada is the stress of finding a new job. What if you could have the best of both worlds? What if you could work for your US employer and still enjoy the immigration freedom Canada has to offer? Sounds too good to be true right? Apparently not.

    In today's episode, we are joined by Marc Pavlopoulos, the founder of Syndesus. Being a former Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Marc has seen first hand the negative impact that the H-1B lottery system has on the STEM talent in the country. Companies scramble to find alternative options when their employees have been unsuccessful in their 3rd and final attempt at the lottery for the coveted work visa. Having the unique advantage of understanding the Canadian Immigration system, he immediately saw a solution that would help companies retain their talent and as a result Syndesus was born. By partnering with the employee's existing employer, Syndesus is able to relocate the employee to Canada on a work permit becoming the link between the employee and their existing employer.

    Tune in to hear about Marc's early days in Silicon Valley and his passion for leveraging tech to solve problems. You'll walk away understanding how Syndesus works and how this is a great option to pursue if you're considering a transition to Canada. At the end of the episode Marc has a discount for all Area 51 podcast listeners. If you ever choose to work with Syndesus in the future, this is definitely something to take advantage of!

    If you want to say hi or have an idea for a podcast episode, this is an easy way for you to reach out. We’ll be more than happy to hear from you!

    If you enjoyed the episode, don't forget to show us some love by giving us a rating and writing a review!







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    51 mins

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