A definitive guide to worker visas

Newsletter for March 26, 2025

Even though it's only Wednesday, I have my eyes set on that 80-degree Saturday. Any fun plans for the weekend? Let me know!

Let's get into this week's newsletter: I wrote a guide for employers and workers navigating work visas, and several lawyers warned to brace for more scrutiny and work site visits during the Trump administration. But it's still very possible for non-citizens to find and hire non-citizens — and, as one Baltimore technologist told me, start their own companies here.

Also, a Baltimore Code & Coffee organizer made the case that tech meetups matter for personal and professional development. Keep scrolling to learn more.

— Kaela, Technical.ly lead reporter in Baltimore and DC

Ever thought about checking out the Philly startup scene? Technical.ly is partnering with Select Greater Philadelphia and Visit Philly to give away a premium trip package with hotel stay in May, just in time for our annual Builders Conference and Philly Tech Week. All you have to do is fill out the form at technical.ly/phillytrip— the deadline is April 14, so enter now and spread the word!

Immigrants have several options to access employment in the US, through both permanent and nonpermanent routes. But the Trump administration’s actions haven’t made an already difficult process any easier.

No current executive order targets a specific visa, though some refer to visas to evaluate “all things immigration” from a national security lens, one lawyer told me.

That could look like United States Citizenship and Immigration Services asking for more evidence, paperwork and site visits — and higher denial rates.

But that doesn't mean employers can't hire immigrants, nor that immigrants can't seek out work and entrepreneurship here. Learn about the different visas and options available, as well as which foreign nationals earned what visas this year, in a comprehensive new guide. Continue reading ...

Getting involved in your local tech community is key to entering the industry, per Baltimore Code & Coffee organizer Valentine Okundaye.

His meetup (whose next event takes place Saturday) provides opportunities for both new technologists and seasoned pros to collaborate. That's intentional.

"Through this caffeinated mixture of expertise, the beginner sees firsthand the world they want to join," Okundaye wrote, "learning a lot with little effort and making friends along the way." Continue reading ...

• The deadline to apply for Towson's StarTUp Accelerator is coming up on March 28. [Towson University/Technical.ly]

• Baltimore edtech company Concentric Education Solutions, which claims to combat chronic absenteeism, has a history of overcharging and underperforming, according to public records. The startup raised a $5 million Series A in 2023. [Baltimore Sun/Technical.ly]

• Upcoming exhibits at the Baltimore Museum of Industry will pay tribute to the immigrant workers who died in the Key Bridge collapse a year ago. They'll open as early as May 2027. [Baltimore Beat/Technical.ly]

• City and state officials, including Mayor Brandon Scott and Gov. Wes Moore, also honored the six deceased Latino workers on Wednesday by meeting with their families and laying wreaths at the collapse site. [Mayor Scott's Office]

• Baltimore nonprofit B-360 opened its first youth center at Harborplace. The organization teaches kids to fix dirt bikes as an avenue toward building STEM skills while offering tutoring support. [Baltimore Banner/Technical.ly]

• Maryland state senators rolled together a series of energy bills, including actions to alleviate consumer costs and to quicken the construction of new power plants. [Maryland Matters]

• Frederick is developing a new food hall downtown which will feature four food stalls, a bar and a market area. Downtown Frederick Partnership received $500,000 from the state for this project. [Downtown Frederick Partnership]