Product & Growth at Instagram, prev. Headspace, Red Bull. Making Sunshine Shop. Vocalist for Monk.

Frank Bach

I’m Canadian and entered the US on a TN Visa which I documented here. Graphic designer category. 

I worked on that for a few years. When NAFTA was being negotiated I got worried and convinced my work’s...

I’d been trying to get my employer at the time to sponsor my permanent residency (Green Card) and they brushed it off. I mean, I get it because giving me a GC would mean I’m not tied to them. 

Once I found out my wife was pregnant, I told my manager at the time that I needed this from the company or they'd force my hand to find another employer who would. Thankfully he vouched for me and was able to push it through. EB-2 was the category I believe, for skilled individuals. That process alone took three years. 

All the while my wife entered on her own TN, eventually a TD, H4, and EAD and then green card when I received mine. 

Years and years of stress, paperwork, travel worries, gone in an instant. I never drove so fast in my life as the day I received that little card. 

Next step, citizenship! 

How did you build a network?

I’ve never stopped! I am naturally interested in people and their stories, and when I moved to California I made a concerted effort to have as many coffee chats as possible. Eventually this led to founding the LA Design & Dev community which goes strong to this day! The best time to network is when you don’t need any favors. 

I’m Canadian and entered the US on a TN Visa which I documented 

I worked on that for a few years. When NAFTA was being negotiated I got worried and convinced my work’s...

I’d been trying to get my employer at the time to sponsor my permanent residency (Green Card) and they brushed it off. I mean, I get it because giving me a GC would mean I’m not tied to them. 

Once I found out my wife was pregnant, I told my manager at the time that I needed this from the company or they'd force my hand to find another employer who would. Thankfully he vouched for me and was able to push it through. EB-2 was the category I believe, for skilled individuals. That process alone took three years. 

All the while my wife entered on her own TN, eventually a TD, H4, and EAD and then green card when I received mine. 

Years and years of stress, paperwork, travel worries, gone in an instant. I never drove so fast in my life as the day I received that little card. 

I’ve never stopped! I am naturally interested in people and their stories, and when I moved to California I made a concerted effort to have as many coffee chats as possible. Eventually this led to founding the 

 community which goes strong to this day! The best time to network is when you don’t need any favors. 

And how did you build a network before moving and immigrating?

Frank Bach

What was your immigration process like?