New H1-B Visa bill doubles the salary requirements to $130K/yr

Post by webmaven » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 5:26 PM UTC

zeroxfe wrote: post #159

webmaven wrote: post #31

This is a good but flawed move. In very high COL places like NYC and SFBA $130k is barely a living wage unless you can put up with a 2h commute. OTOH, in low COL markets (eg. KC) this eliminates H1-Bs from consideration for most entry-level positions. For many markets in the middle (an example doesn't come to mind, perhaps Los Angeles?) where $130k+ is a decent salary for an entry-level position this new minimum work…

Speaking as a New Yorker, $130k is not "barely a living wage", unless you have a really distorted definition of "living." You do not need to commute 2h for reasonable housing -- I lived in Brooklyn (which, for me, was a very comfortable 25m door-to-door commute), and was very happy there.

Post by intended » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 5:28 PM UTC

dukeluke wrote: post #262

readhn wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The abuse of h1b program by IT firms is the issue that has to be separated out and resolved on its own. There is no reason why we should send a freshly graduated physics scientist back to Uganda or whatever because he can't find an employer willing to pay him/her some abstract 130k salary straight out of school (which is A LOT OF MONEY). Again, when I hire - I do it strictly based on skills and experience. If I have…

I don't see any reason why h1b visa holders shouldn't have a high bar to reach. The whole point of the program is to bring the best of the best, not the average or mediocre, which could likely be filled by an American somewhere.

Post by arcticbull » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 5:30 PM UTC

mhurron wrote: post #151

theonemind wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You quote the part that explains it. It looks like it might affect him as someone who might move to the US at some point. It might affect him. Large, successful insurance companies work on the notion of probability. It does bear taking into account.

A Canadian would come in under a TN visa which is not a lottery, not H1-B.

Post by gregw2 » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 5:31 PM UTC

foldr wrote: post #229

gregw2 wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, this is an issue. On h1b your (non-citizen) wife cant legally work without getting her own working h1b or other visa which can be tricky.

I thought that this changed recently? It's now, at least theoretically, quite easy for spouses of H1B visa holders to apply for permission to work.

Post by arcticbull » Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 5:34 PM UTC

mhurron wrote: post #212

doytch wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of larger companies will switch you to an H1-B at some point since they're trying to put you on a Green Card track (bc of long-run costs? not sure). While you technically can apply for a green card on TN status, since TN is intended for temporary workers, it's frowned upon by DHS and immigration departments at companies know that. Source: I'm a two-time Canadian > US TN-to-H1B and eventually bailed out of the p…

TN can be extended indefinitely, so if you're being pressured to change to a H1-B you might want to ask why until you get a direct and specific answer.