Right before we launched our OPT application, our co-founder, Amélie, sat down with colleague Sameer Khedekar to chat about his experience and hopes for the product. Sameer, named as one of the top 20 immigration attorneys in the nation by HR Executive and the Founder of Banyan, a global immigration firm, takes pride in his client-focused approach. He brings 17+ years of experience managing immigration service delivery for Fortune 500 companies, midsize employers, startups, and entrepreneurs. Sameer is one of only a handful of immigration lawyers to be certified as an immigration expert by the State Bar of California. He founded Banyan on the core principle of empathy, wanting to “connect more with immigrants” and “startup founders.” Now, nearly three years later, Sameer is still devoted to his primary motivating factor: “being a resource for high-skilled immigrants” who needed help. Running a successful law firm and connecting with clients are not mutually exclusive — and Sameer is living proof.
Sameer’s interest in helping students, the focal point of our new product, stems from personal history. As an international student at Berkeley, Sameer’s father found himself confused and overwhelmed by the immigration system. “He never really talked about it until I was much older,” recalls Sameer of his father, “about how scared he was and how he never understood what was going on.” His father’s work permit got lost in the mail during school, leaving him, a young Indian immigrant, unable to work and make money for nearly a year. In a way, the system failed Sameer’s father, and now as an adult, Sameer is dedicating his time to helping international students at his practice and reviewing our student work authorization applications. To Sameer, ensuring that each applicant has someone supporting them is of the utmost priority.
Through his experience at his own practice and beyond, Sameer has witnessed the importance of technology, especially in the immigration sphere. Sameer believes that to some degree, immigration can be viewed “as a technology problem, not a legal problem,” because “when [the system] is not managed well, there seems to be a lot of disorganization and chaos.” In addition to the technological downfalls of immigration systems, the task of applying for OPT is “so convoluted,” says Sameer, and there are so many “pitfalls and minefields” that one wouldn’t know how to avoid without having a background in studying law. This is where Formally steps in, to bridge the gaps between student, lawyer, and immigration authorities through technology.
Reflecting on the benefits of our OPT application, Sameer says, “most of the work will be done by the product,” and “the biggest benefit [for students] is that they have somewhere to go” for immigration-related queries while feeling “secure about their future.” By creating an informational and helpful product, our users’ minds will be put at ease for the first time in their immigration process as they have access to their own data. Formally’s attorney review feature, Sameer believes, “adds an additional layer of confidence” for students to “feel really secure about their future.” “It will de-stress them,” he says of students — and we all could use a little relaxation and peace of mind.
Sameer’s confidence in our OPT application is unwavering, but he also advises students to not “think short term, think long term.” To applicants, he says, “educate yourself about what is after the OPT as well, what people are doing to put themselves in advantageous situations for jobs.” Although your immigration battles may not be over yet, Formally can help you achieve your first critical goal in that long-term plan: work authorization. Formally’s services will continue to be useful to applicants years after forms are filed — we securely store all your information. Sameer tells applicants “To think about what you can do over the next two years to put yourself in a good position for [a green card],” and part of that process is working with Formally. With us, your data is not on some unknown server, it is easily accessible to you through our platform, bringing flexibility to the immigration process and future applications.
We are so grateful for Sameer’s enduring support and commitment to our product, together we are “truly helping people” make their dreams a reality, Sameer remarks — whether it be a goal of working as a waitress, interning at a startup, or founding your own company. Of his own practice, Sameer remarks, “what I think is one of the most important things you can provide is empathy,” and we couldn’t agree more. We are here to build trust, listen, and help you navigate immigration form filling. So, join Sameer in taking the next step forward with Formally and in your immigration journey, and begin your I-765 application for work authorization today — you may even be lucky enough to have Sameer review your application!
