Living on the Edge – Story of an Iranian Student in US

Living on the Edge – Story of an Iranian Student in US
medium.com

American citizens don't realize the restrictions placed on even "friendly" aliens (excluding LPRs for the most part):

(1) AR-11 form to file every time you move so the government can keep track of your address.

(2) You cannot perform any work in the US, paid or unpaid, that's not for your employer -- so even open source can be a grey area. Contracting is off the table.

(3) You can trade stocks but not "too much" (undefined quantity) because it then becomes active income and you're out of status.

(4) Every time you cross the border you're advised to bring your entire petition with you (H1B, TN) in case the guards decide to drag you into secondary. Further, TN status can be revoked at each border crossing. The one time I left my H1B petition at home I got dragged in, they spent about an hour validating my status; luckily the initial officer wrote my WAC number into my passport and they could look it up.

(5) TN only: 3 year visas, indefinitely renewable so long as you convince the border guard you won't renew them indefinitely. The mental gymnastics hurt my brain. Then there's the whole software engineer vs. computer systems analyst vs. programmer distinction that's apparently the most meaningful thing in the world. Much of your TN petition relies on the mood of the border guard. And that's if there's even going to be a NAFTA in a few weeks.

(6) You basically can't found here without a green card, and that takes the better part of a decade to obtain from start to finish, unless you're an Indian national in which case god help you. You can't even get a buddy to start the company and sponsor you unless you're Canadian and can TN your way in, because of the sheer quantity of recordkeeping, cost and 33% chance once a year in April of obtaining an H1B for an employee who can't start until the new USCIS fiscal year beginning October 1st.

(7) Out of status for 180-364 days? 3 year bar. Out of status longer? 10 year bar. Even if you marry someone, you can't adjust status from within the country so you get wanged with the bar on your way back in.

(8) H-1B: Last day of work? GTFO time. Officially, no grace period, it's back where you came from. Also? You simultaneously have to get an IRS form 1040-C Sailing Permit approved by your IRS field office before you go. Though many aliens who are fired/laid off obviously can't satisfy both requirements at once. Pick the one you want to piss off least.

Every US immigrant and nonimmigrant knows this stuff, ask one next time you see them, it's what we bond over ^_^

When I elected not to pursue a green card and left the US, it felt really good not to be under the thumb of the government. And this is 'easy mode' -- as a Canadian software engineer with 6 years of professional experience.

You clearly have no idea what its like to put your shit in a box and move half way around the world.

Have you ever been to Iran? Anywhere near Iran? Do you know whether there's a difference between how the government treats people and how people treat each other there?

The only way to change your perspective is to go somewhere different. I wouldn't go to Iran right now because the US won't look kindly at you when you return, but somewhere like the Emirates or Qatar is a good start. Hard though, according to the State Department, only 36% of Americans have passports.