Hi Reddit,
I'm back for another AMA. For those who participated last time, you know my background — I'm an immigration attorney who previously served as an Asylum Officer (AO) with DHS/USCIS, interviewing and adjudicating asylum cases, and also worked within ICE's Office of Chief Counsel in Immigration Court.
My last AMA focused on asylum, and the response was great. But something else came up repeatedly that I didn't fully anticipate. A number of individuals came in with asylum questions, and after looking at their situations honestly, it was clear their asylum claims were quite weak with a low chance of success. In several of those cases I was able to point them toward employment-based alternatives they hadn't considered — realistic paths that actually fit their situations better.
That happened enough times that I want to make it a focus of this AMA.
So this time I'm opening it up. I'll be covering:
- Asylum — still a core focus, with a background that gives me a practical understanding of how the process actually works
- EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) — self-petitioned green cards for individuals whose work benefits the U.S.
- EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (I-140) — green cards for individuals who have risen to the top of their field
- O-1A/O-1B Visas — temporary visas for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in science, business, arts, or athletics
- General immigration questions — if it's in my wheelhouse I'll do my best to help
If you came here thinking asylum might be your only option, it may not be. Ask anyway — sometimes the right path forward is one you haven't considered yet.
I'll be answering questions live Friday, May 8th, 2026, 11am - 1pm EST. Drop your questions below.
Nothing shared here is legal advice and doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. If you'd like to discuss your specific situation privately, feel free to send me a DM.