Andrew Ng and Their Immigration Story

Andrew Ng arrived in the United States as a teenager on an F-1 student visa—describing himself as "unskilled and clueless"—and went on to become one of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence. His journey from international student to AI pioneer exemplifies both the extraordinary opportunities America offers and the systemic immigration challenges that high-skilled talent continues to face. Today, with 55% of billion-dollar startups having an immigrant founder, Ng's story serves as a blueprint for understanding how immigration policy shapes technological innovation.

Andrew Ng: From International Student to AI Leader

The Early Years: Building a Foundation

Born in London in 1976 to parents who had immigrated from Hong Kong, Andrew Ng spent his formative years in Hong Kong and Singapore before coming to the United States. His multicultural upbringing would later inform his approach to making AI education accessible globally.

In 1993, Ng enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University on an F-1 student visa. He completed a triple major in computer science, statistics, and economics—an ambitious course load that foreshadowed his interdisciplinary approach to machine learning. His academic trajectory continued with:

• 1997-1998: Master's degree at MIT, where he built one of the first auto-indexed research paper search engines
• Early 2000s: PhD at UC Berkeley under renowned machine learning researcher Michael I. Jordan
• 2002-present: Faculty position at Stanford University, transitioning from OPT to H-1B status

This educational pathway—F-1 to OPT to H-1B—remains a common route for international students seeking careers in the United States, though each transition carries its own complexities.

From Academia to Industry Leadership

Ng's contributions to AI extend far beyond academic research. His industry achievements include:

• Google Brain (2011): Co-founded Google's deep learning research team, which demonstrated that neural networks could learn to recognize cats from unlabeled YouTube videos
• Coursera (2012): Co-founded the online education platform, democratizing access to Stanford-quality courses for millions worldwide
• Baidu AI Group (2014-2017): Served as Chief Scientist, leading a team of over 1,300 researchers
• DeepLearning.AI and Landing AI (2017-present): Founded companies focused on AI education and enterprise AI deployment
• Amazon Board (2024-present): Appointed to the board of directors in April 2024

Each career move required careful immigration planning. As Ng has noted, the uncertainty around immigration status affects major life and career decisions, from accepting job offers to starting companies.

The Immigration Pathway: What Ng's Journey Teaches Us

Understanding the F-1 to Permanent Residency Timeline

Andrew Ng's immigration journey illustrates a pathway that thousands of STEM professionals attempt to follow each year. Here's what that timeline typically involves:

Stage 1: F-1 Student Visa (varies by program)

• Allows full-time study at accredited institutions
• Limited on-campus work authorization
• No guarantee of post-graduation work rights

Stage 2: Optional Practical Training (1-3 years)

• 12 months of work authorization for all graduates
• Additional 24-month STEM OPT extension for qualifying fields
• Requires employer E-Verify enrollment for extension

Stage 3: H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa (up to 6 years)

• Annual cap of 85,000 visas (including 20,000 for advanced degree holders)
• Lottery system when applications exceed cap
• Employer-sponsored, creating job mobility constraints

Stage 4: Employment-Based Green Card (variable)

• Requires labor certification for most categories
• Per-country caps create vastly different wait times
• Indian and Chinese nationals face decades-long backlogs

For Ng, this process spanned many years. For others from countries with heavy backlogs, the wait can extend even longer.

The Uncertainty Factor

In interviews, Ng has spoken candidly about the human toll of immigration uncertainty. "Who knows if policy will make all that waiting pointless?" he has asked, articulating a concern shared by millions of immigrants navigating the system.

This uncertainty manifests in concrete ways:

• Career limitations: H-1B holders may face friction when changing jobs or starting companies
• Family planning: Long wait times affect decisions about marriage, children, and home ownership
• Geographic restrictions: Some visa holders may not be able to travel internationally without risking re-entry
• Professional advancement: Promotions requiring job changes may be impossible

Jyoti Bansal, founder of enterprise software company Harness, has said he waited eight years for his green card before he could start his own business—a delay that illustrates how immigration restrictions can throttle entrepreneurship.

The Broader Impact: Why Immigrant Talent Matters

Economic Contributions

The data on immigrant entrepreneurship is striking. According to research compiled by the Bipartisan Policy Center, immigrants demonstrate extraordinary entrepreneurial activity:

• Research shows immigrants are 10% to 80% more likely to start businesses than U.S.-born individuals depending on the study
• Approximately 25% of new businesses in the United States are immigrant-founded (in prior Census-era estimates)
• 55% of billion-dollar startups have at least one immigrant founder

In the AI sector specifically, the concentration of immigrant talent is even more pronounced. Many leading AI researchers in the United States were born abroad, making immigration policy inseparable from AI competitiveness.

National Security Implications

The National Security Commission on AI has reframed high-skilled immigration as a strategic advantage rather than merely an economic issue. Key findings include:

• Human capital supremacy: Technical talent is harder to replicate than hardware or financial resources
• Competitive dynamics: China and other nations are actively recruiting AI researchers trained in U.S. universities
• Brain drain risks: Restrictive immigration policies risk pushing foreign-born graduates to other countries
• Government capacity: Federal agencies lack sufficient AI expertise to implement and oversee critical systems

Former Undersecretary of Defense Michèle Flournoy has argued that the AI talent shortage represents a national security vulnerability that immigration policy could help address.

Proposed Policy Changes: Legislative Considerations

Bills Under Consideration

As of December 2025, several bills have been proposed in the 119th Congress that could significantly reshape immigration pathways for high-skilled workers, though these remain under consideration and have not been enacted. The immigration environment for high-skilled workers faces potential changes from proposed legislation:

American Tech Workforce Act (S. 2821) - Proposed

• Would establish a $150,000 minimum H-1B salary
• Would eliminate OPT program entirely
• Proposes salary-based allocation replacing lottery

H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act - Proposed

• Bipartisan bill from Senators Grassley and Durbin
• Would require 30-day job posting before H-1B sponsorship
• Would prioritize applicants with advanced U.S. degrees

EAD Processing Challenges

• Significant backlogs in EAD processing
• Automatic extension policies have changed in recent years
• Creates employment gaps for visa-dependent workers

These proposed changes make expert legal guidance more critical than ever for individuals and businesses managing immigration matters.

What This Could Mean for AI Talent

The stakes for AI researchers are particularly high. A significant portion of approved H-1B petitions go to the professional, scientific, and technical services sector—where AI talent is concentrated. Proposed changes to OPT would affect the pipeline of international students who currently train at U.S. universities and often remain to work.

Andrew Ng has noted that a large majority of attendees at AI developer conferences are immigrants. Restrictions that reduce this talent pool could shift AI development to other countries.

Andrew Ng's Advocacy: Immigration as a Human Issue

Ng has been vocal about immigration policy, framing it as both a strategic necessity and a moral obligation:

"Immigration is an important business and strategic issue for the US, but it's also a very human issue for millions of families. There's an obligation for us to make smart decisions from a business and strategic perspective, but also to treat people with kindness."

This perspective—balancing economic arguments with human dignity—characterizes his public advocacy. He emphasizes that:

• Collaboration between immigrants and native-born workers creates mutual benefit
• Immigration restrictions harm real families facing separation and uncertainty
• The United States benefits when talented people want to build their lives here
• Policy decisions should consider long-term innovation capacity, not just short-term labor market dynamics

Pathways for AI Researchers and STEM Professionals

For those following a path similar to Andrew Ng's, several visa categories deserve consideration:

For Extraordinary Ability: O-1A Visa

The O-1A visa recognizes individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, business, or athletics. Qualifying criteria include:

• Receipt of major awards or prizes
• Membership in associations requiring outstanding achievement
• Published material about the applicant in professional publications
• Original scientific or business contributions of major significance
• High salary relative to peers

For AI researchers with published work, patents, or industry recognition, this category offers an alternative to H-1B lottery uncertainty.

For Permanent Residency: EB-1A and EB-2 NIW

The EB-1A green card category shares criteria with O-1A but leads to permanent residency without employer sponsorship. The EB-2 NIW allows applicants to self-petition by demonstrating their work benefits the United States.

AI researchers increasingly qualify for these categories due to:

• Published research with significant citations
• Patents in machine learning or related fields
• Contributions to open-source projects with widespread adoption
• Expert testimony about field impact

For Startups: Strategic Considerations

Entrepreneurs face particular challenges, as H-1B status requires an employer-employee relationship. Options include:

• O-1A for founders who meet extraordinary ability criteria
• E-2 treaty investor visas for nationals of qualifying countries
• Waiting for green card approval before launching ventures (as Jyoti Bansal did)

Alma's startup services provide specialized support for founders working through these complex scenarios.

Why Expert Legal Support Matters

Andrew Ng's journey unfolded over many years, through multiple visa categories, during periods of relative policy stability. Today's environment presents additional complexity:

• Rapidly changing regulations require constant monitoring
• Application backlogs create timing uncertainties
• Policy proposals could eliminate existing pathways
• Documentation requirements have become more stringent

Alma combines attorney expertise with technology-enabled efficiency, offering:

• Guaranteed two-week processing for predictable timelines
• 99%+ approval rate backed by experienced immigration attorneys
• Real-time case tracking so you always know your application status
• Flat-rate pricing without hidden fees or surprises

Whether you're an international student planning your first OPT application or an established researcher pursuing permanent residency, personalized legal guidance can help you build your American dream with confidence.