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H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

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Re: H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

#221
post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Green Card has a risk of deportation that citizenship does not. But the current administration is working to make citizenship revocable.

But the current administration is working to make citizenship revocable. I firmly believe that the current administration would love to change the rules on citizenship. However the 14th amendment is extremely clear on this, and the courts have consistently ruled for decades that Congress and the President do not have the right to change the laws to strip citizenship from people. (This was extensively litigated over l…

I would say that it heavily depends on the current justices in the supreme court. With the current court composition I wouldn't say that both of those issues have equal risk of being revoked.

Re: H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

#222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There isn't much savings in terms of health care. In Ontario, if you're working you have to pay a health care tax that is similar to what an employee would pay at a Silicon Valley company. And then the health care is much worse in terms of responsiveness. For example, I have Kaiser, and my Canadians friends are envious at how quickly I get scheduled for procedures. My family and friends have had to wait months for so…

> In Ontario, if you're working you have to pay a health care tax that is similar to what an employee would pay at a Silicon Valley company. You must be comparing California monthly costs to Ontario yearly costs. Maximum Ontario annual premiums are $900.[1] To get equivalent coverage (by equivalent, I mean in terms of insurance value - as in, I won't have a $15,000 copay if I get into a serious accident) from Kaiser…

Don't forget prescription drug coverage in Ontario if you have to buy your own insurance.

Hell, in BC, the gov't plan has a $4000 deductible if you make more than $100,000.

Re: H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

#223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google/Microsoft/Facebook/Apple/etc are each individually orders of magnitude larger than the entire Canadian software industry combined We just need one of those companies to get fed up and move their HQ north. Canada's tech sector would double overnight. I can even see that happening if the next couple US elections go the wrong way.

Fed up with what? They care about nothing but making money. It's very infantile to think otherwise.

Which is why getting an equally-skilled workforce in the same timezone at a fraction of the cost would be a huge selling point, would it not?

Add to that less friction around growing this workforce by bringing in new talent from abroad and it seems like a slam dunk.

Re: H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

#224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some might draw a connection between Canada's open doors policy for skilled immigrants, and the low salaries paid.

I don't think it's the primary reason. The Canadian tech sector doesn't make nearly as much money as their US counterpart does. The country has very few dedicated software companies, and none the caliber of the FAAMGs. For comparison, the largest software company in Canada by revenue earns $1.7B, Google is in the neighborhood of $120B a year. Google/Microsoft/Facebook/Apple/etc are each individually orders of magnitu…

Amazon and Microsoft already are moving people to Canada if they can't secure H1B as far as I understand.

Re: H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

#225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds great. Come to USA after college, make a million dollars in a few years, move back home, get married, and build the Indian economy. You don't want a country where every who has the ability will leave.

> That sounds great. Come to USA after college, make a million dollars in a few years, move back home, get married, and build the Indian economy LOL. Your comment doesn't even pass smell taste. How many people working as developers will make million dollars in few years after paying payroll taxes? Federal, state, social security, medicare on top of paying for housing, car insurance, health insurance, renter/house own…

The "google truck engineer" story proves otherwise: https://www.businessinsider.com/google-employee-lives-in-tru...

Re: H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

#226
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people don't care about money, they want to raise family in a safe environment, I interview a lot of foreigners and there is clear trend that they don't want to go to the US with the current administration.

> Most people don't care about money, This is BS. Most ppl care about money above all else. India is a not a war zone its a "safe environment to raise family". > I interview a lot of foreigners and there is clear trend that they don't want to go to the US with the current administration. Why are you interviewing them then? Are you in Canada?

After a certain point, more money takes lower priority than other aspects like life goals, hobbies, family, environment, etc.

Re: H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

#227
post #157
post #153

Is it really true, however? Or my experience is an outlier? I have been issued a 10 year tourism/business visa to the USA. The interviewer asked me a couple questions and then said "Your visa is approved". She didn't ask for any paper work. No kidding. I got the interview booked, interview and the visa/passport in the same week. The process was flawless and the employees very friendly. I know a few others in my socia…

Your visa is essentially a visitor visa. You are not authorized to work in USA - you can visit for business while being paid by foreign entity. It is very different from H1B visa that is tied to a specific employer.

I understand that. But my point is that the process was way easier, faster and better than most European countries, Canada or the UK. For the same type of visa.

Re: H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

#228
post #73

The UK is an amazing place as well if you are looking for tech jobs outside of Asia. Almost all major companies have offices her plus a decent startup scene.

While the tech scene is indeed very strong in some fields (like FinTech), it's also been bleeding since the Brexit vote, and the situation is certainly not going to improve any time soon. On the other hand, I guess that might mean more opportunities for non-EU immigrants?

That's what some of the pro Brexit mp's were saying - well actually lying - to try and get some typically labour communities to vote Brexit.

Re: H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

#229
I generally believe we should try harder to educate and hire Americans.

I am not against immigrants or H1B holders. Or anyone trying to improve their lot in life.

I am against the position H1B holders are in. And the effects it can have on a culture. Especially with the force multiplier of technology.

They are basically indentured servants. And therefore more likely to do whatever their boss wants, including morally suspect things. Like buy and sell American's privacy. Speak out or resist? You'll need to on a plane out of the country in 6 days.

I'm not saying this is a product of a particular race/ethnicity/identity. The moral suspectness. But rather the product of the position. Most everyone in that position would behave in similar ways to keep their position. Sometimes at all cost. Don't get it twisted.

So to me, the reasonable options are to either cut back on the program, or give H1B holders more rights.

Re: H-1B: As immigration furor roils Silicon Valley, Canada smooths way for techies

#230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm yeah hard winters or having your spouse deported. Hard choice.

I feel like the number of tech people who legitimately worry about their spouse being deported is extremely small. And it's only two years until the next election anyways.

For high skilled people it can be I know a CTO who moved back to the uk from the valley mainly because his wife could not work - she was a senior nurse I recall.
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