The process of hiring immigrant tech workers has become easier for companies thanks to a new subscription service offered by the immigration law firm Ellis. The service, which starts at $2,000 a month, allows smaller startups with under 50 employees to file unlimited visa applications, including the H-1B visa, J-1 student visa, and TN visa for workers from Mexico and Canada.
The introduction of this service comes at a time when the Trump administration has imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, making it challenging for tech companies to hire skilled talent from abroad. The steep cost has already had an impact on the tech industry, with many employers forced to reevaluate their hiring strategy and some opting to sit out the H-1B lottery. Ellis aims to simplify the work visa application process for companies and workers through a tech-enabled platform that uses AI to automate parts of the process. The platform offers a more comprehensive solution for tech employers, providing tech-forward legal support and the full services of an immigration law firm.
Ellis has managed to bring down the legal costs associated with visa applications by employing AI agents where appropriate, with the oversight of full-time staff attorneys. The firm claims to have a 99.4% approval rate on its visa applications and offers a smoother, more streamlined application process for workers. Ellis also provides a dashboard and shipment tracking, allowing workers to keep tabs on their application. In addition, the firm has introduced an H-1B lottery odds calculator to give applicants a sense of how likely they are to get approved for a visa based on their title and location.
The introduction of Ellis’s subscription service is expected to have a significant impact on the tech industry, particularly for small companies that have been struggling to navigate the complex and expensive process of hiring immigrant tech workers. With the H-1B lottery opening up next month, Ellis is aiming to help 1,000 people secure visas by the end of 2026. The firm’s use of automation and commitment to education and resources will also help workers and employers navigate the ever-changing landscape of immigration policy. As Ellis founder and CEO Sampei Omichi says, “Our job is to kind of simplify a traditionally very, very, very complex process into something a layman can understand.”
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