Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim — America is Open For Business (EP.199)
Jan 25, 2024
auto_awesome
Minn Kim and Lisa Wehden, founders of Plymouth Street, discuss the problems with the current US immigration system, injecting agency into the process, the importance of storytelling, scaling with technology, and the emotional toll of the immigration system.
The current US immigration system fails to accommodate the needs of technology entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers.
Plymouth Street aims to change the narrative around high-skilled immigration and broaden access to visa pathways for exceptional individuals.
Plymouth Street utilizes a technology platform to streamline the visa application process and aims to become an all-in-one platform for employers supporting various visa categories.
Deep dives
Helping Immigrants Navigate US Immigration Processes
Plymouth Street, founded by Min Kim and Lisa Whedon, aims to assist talented immigrants in STEM fields with US immigration processes. They recognized the challenges faced by immigrants trying to navigate the complex US immigration system, particularly in the context of technological innovation. Plymouth Street focuses on the O1 visa category, known as the extraordinary person's visa, which is underutilized by technologists. By providing a precise and concise methodology for crafting narratives and supporting documentation, they help applicants showcase their exceptional abilities and achievements. Plymouth Street's mission is to expand access to the O1 visa and advocate for policies that recognize the crucial role of high-skilled immigrants in driving progress and innovation in the US.
The Outdated US Immigration System
The founders of Plymouth Street highlight the challenges posed by the outdated US immigration system. They explain that the current visa pathways do not adequately accommodate the modern category of technology entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers. Many visa categories were designed based on the skills and professions in demand in the past, failing to address the diverse skills and talents needed today. Efforts to develop new visa categories and expand existing ones have been made, but significant policy changes and updates are required to keep up with the rapid advancements in technology and the changing landscape of skills. Plymouth Street aims to bring attention to these challenges and drive the conversation towards a more responsive and progressive immigration system.
Changing the Narrative and Broadening Access
Plymouth Street aims to change the narrative around high-skilled immigration and broaden access to visa pathways for exceptional individuals. They emphasize the need for recognizing the contributions of talented immigrants in driving progress and innovation in the US. The founders draw a parallel with the entertainment industry, which effectively utilizes the O1 visa to bring exceptional talent from around the world. Plymouth Street's innovative approach includes narrative mapping, which helps applicants craft compelling stories to highlight their expertise and impact. By offering guidance, transparency, and educational resources, Plymouth Street aims to empower individuals to advocate for themselves and explore the available visa categories that suit their unique abilities and aspirations.
Supporting individuals in becoming eligible for work visas
Plymouth helps individuals in the UK who are highly paid but lack the required criteria for certain work visas, such as the O1 visa. They support these individuals by guiding them on how to fulfill the necessary criteria, including connecting them with membership organizations and judging opportunities. By taking a 'what's possible' mindset, Plymouth helps individuals leverage their unique backgrounds, such as open source developers, to become eligible for the visa. Additionally, Plymouth assists employers in understanding immigration as a strategic advantage, guiding them on immigration strategies and visa sequences to hire talented individuals from other countries.
Plymouth's technology-driven approach and future expansion
Plymouth utilizes a sophisticated technology platform to streamline the visa application process, breaking it down into manageable steps and leveraging automation for data management and document collection. While domain expertise from attorneys is necessary, Plymouth focuses on delivering a more empathetic and transparent experience for individuals embarking on the immigration journey. They aim to scale their core product and become an all-in-one platform for employers, supporting various visa categories beyond the O1 and EB1 visas. Plymouth also sees opportunities for collaboration with HR tools, recruiting talent, and empowering companies to view immigration as a competitive advantage.
Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim are the founders of Plymouth Street, which guides talented individuals through the US immigration process. Its aim is to accelerate innovation through faster and more transparent immigration services. Lisa & Minn join the show to discuss the pitfalls of the current system, how Plymouth Street is injecting agency into the immigration process, the importance of storytelling, and MUCH more! Important Links:
