181–190 of 227 posts
Whole H1B system is essentially modern form of slavery. I've seen people becoming multi-millionaires exploiting this slavery system. Companies in India have amassed massive revenues exploiting the same. The way it works is you put advertise in newspaper for minimum expected wage for tech worker. Then you buy a genius 3rd world tech worker and sell him/her to clients for approximately twice that rate. Then you put sig…
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Can you provide a source that shows the laws of economics not applying to technology labor markets? As for your source -- how about common sense and the most basic econ 101 chart on supply, demand and price? http://www.investopedia.com/university/economics/economics3.... The higher the supply the lower the price.
I don't know if it counts as a 'source' but tech companies in NYC/Seattle/SF pay $75,000/yr+ to 19-20 year old interns with almost no experience. And not as a rare occurrence, I had 10 offers at the same time any given term and so did most of my classmates. Hardly sounds like they're being exploited and suffering due to a glut in supply. Either that or "exploitation" rates in the US are double the market rate in Cana…
(That said, I've seen startups in Toronto offering $50k/year lol!)
If those are companies that are illiterate on the most basic things, such the difference between an H-1B application and a transfer then there's a good chance they will fuck it up on the important parts.
Important things like H-1B renewal schedule, green card sponsorship, visa renewal expenses and so on.
You change jobs and the next thing you know is that you're stuck in the USA for up to 6 months because one of the overworked founders didn't apply for the renewal early enough.
The above is an easily manageable one compared to all the horror scenarios that a mismanaged H-1B immigration can be.
I read through the article and I wouldn't refer to their approach as 'gaming' the H-1B system. People who are on H1-B tend not to leave their companies for 2 main reasons 1) They've entered into some agreements where they agree to pay the company some big penalty if they leave. This is clearly illegal but still happens. So, the employee knows he/she can do a job transfer but the penalty holds them back. Some of them…
This is the most thoughtful and well-reasoned comment in this entire thread. Would like to see Triplebyte respond to it.
This is my life story in US till now. My H1B visa was applied thru one of the biggest Indian consulting companies and I started working in Kansas. The project was awesome and I loved the work and our team was programming for the connected cars. We were paid peanuts by our employer around 62K which was the bare minimum mandated by LCA in Kansas location. But I didn't care about the peanuts they were giving me , I love…
As a good software engineer you can live pretty much anywhere in world, either live with the consequences of accepting US system or move somewhere else. Over time it will get better but complaining that its not fair will not solve it.
For your mistakes, don't blame the employer. If you disclose them your needs they will take advantage. Also you were not a bonded labour while at your big financial firm you could have applied to other position and get better offers.
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Hi! I am currently on a student visa in the U.S. and was considering trying the H-1B route. However, since it is so tiresome and it literally can make you waste years of your life, I was thinking to not even bother. When I was doing research, most people say that the US is the best place to be at as a SE. This makes it sound like if you are doomed everywhere else. I am happy to see that you seem to be a counterexampl…
Europe is not that bad. Yes it is nice to earn $120k in Silicon Valley, but life is extremely expensive with $3500/m rent for a 1br apt. Get a job in my home town Amsterdam, earn $80k and spend only $1000 on an apartment. Uber moved its mobile engineering team there for a reason. In general, the entrepreneurial scene is much smaller, but if you want to concentrate on SE Europe is fine.
I think you are a bit off on both :)
Salary:
As a Software Engineer, chances are you can a bit more (especially including bonus + RSU). If you're "senior" you can earn quite a bit more.
Also: There are tons of other small perks that add up (phone/internet reimbursement, free food, public transport pass, free electric car charging, ...)
Rent:
You can currently get a 2 BR, 2 BR in Mountain View for about $3500 (managed newish building 2 minutes from Castro)
(Source: moved to Valley from Europe via Boston)
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> it literally can make you waste years of your life Not sure why you would consider those years "wasted". You're working, gaining experience and making money. Since the job market is great, an H-1B isn't really something that would keep you back from negotiating your salary or anything else. Getting the green card is a bit different, but there have been some reforms over the last few years. I'd personally recommend…
Yes, you are right. Thanks! I was kind of depressed because of my slim chances, but with all these responses I certainly am looking differently at this situation.
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But what if you want to take a year off? Or just some time off inbetween jobs to travel? AFAIK you need to stay employed with a sponsoring employer all the while. Plus it definitely makes you risk averse as far as doing your thing is concerned.
If you have an approved H1B, you can take a year off by resigning. I don't know of any employer who would you give you a sabbatical; citizen or not. You can use your remaining H1B time with the same or any other employer. As I see it, this is the law of the land, take it or leave it; complaining is not an option IMO. Also, I don't see how you can start something on your own (excluding freelancing) if you're taking co…
Given that I pay taxes and am subject to immigration laws a lot longer than a person born anywhere else, I don't see why I can't complain about a law that reflects nativist compromises of the Civil Rights act.
And well by time off, I didn't mean a sabbatical, just the ability to quit my job and not have to leave the country as a result.
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A lot of people here a critical of the visa system because it drives wages down. This is an effect of employers having way too much leverage in the current system, the H1B being attached to your current employement. If you provide for equal rights between americans, permanent residents and non-immigrant workers, you cut that leverage out of employers' hands and empoyer non-immigrant workers to negociate market rate c…
Having lived in both Switzerland and US I have to say that US is much more friendly towards the immigrants from non-EU countries. Swiss make it nearly impossible for people outside EU to get a permanent redidence permit (have to wait for 10 years for a C permit) whereas in US there are multiple paths (EB1-3, NIV) and a plethora of employers (tech companies in West and East coast at least) who would offer GC sponsorsh…