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My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

software.rajivprab.com

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Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#141

Post by chupkarkhotay »

twofornone wrote: post #72
codegeek wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never understand this argument. If someone leaves their country to migrate, aren't they looking for a better life ? Just because India requires you to live for 12 years, Indian citizens should just shut up/put up with 18+ years of waiting because their country of origin has it worse/same ? This sounds a lot like "We gave you US citizenship. So shut up and stop criticizing the Govt because you came from a 3rd world…

Are foreign peoples entitled to US citizenship? Where is the obligation to make the process easy and open to everyone coming from?

No post body was provided.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#142

Post by lmarcos »

notch656a wrote: post #115
itissid wrote: post #88

One of the constant dichotomies that i(and maybe other immigrants) live with are these: The privilege of being a model minority [1] [2] yet being on the edge of having to lose it all if the immigration system shits itself. One might be a senior software engineer paying 100K + in taxes and probably drive EVs and own a home, your largest infraction are parking tickets, yet the risks are asymmetric; the whims of bureauc…

>a border guard who is having a bad day. This is not to be understated. I was born a US citizen. Last time I entered the country, officers faked that a dog had alerted "on my anus", forcibly strip searched me, and fabricated a story that plastic baggies that they suspected 'could be drugs' were coming out of my ass. I was shackled and cuffed and dragged around the state of Arizona for 16 hours while publicly paraded…

And that's another reason I will never visit the USA.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#143

Post by bckygldstn »

asdf_snar wrote: post #31

I can only say this sounds extremely accurate based on my own experience of F-1, OPT, H1B. The anxiety resonates as well. I remember getting my work authorization card and noticing that my first name and last name were switched. I remember sitting down at a train station and nearly breaking down into tears, because I was certain this mistake wouldn't be tolerated, that I'd lose my job, and have to leave the country.

My green card had my name correct but someone else's face printed on it! Unfortunately they didn't look at all like me, it took ages to get fixed. I wonder if someone else got my face on their card, or if they use a grumpy bald man as a placeholder in their card template.

My name is also misspelt on my social security card. I didn't bother to have that corrected and so far there have been zero repercussions.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#144

Post by rdl »

I'd definitely like our immigration system to be better executed even under the current overall goals; the arbitrary/capricious CBP officer at the border seems pretty bad.

Most of H1B could be fixed if we could get rid of Wipro/etc. staffing agency abuse (almost entirely of people from India, but there are lots of Indian H1B who work for other companies and are fine); the process seems relatively non-abused by actual end-user tech employers, with the biggest problems for smaller companies being the "can't work here because if company fails you lose status (in 30 days now, thankfully, not immediately)" and "hassle of the process".

I'm not sure how legally to ban the Wipro style use of H1B while preserving the rest. I'd also always prefer fees vs. delays; there are jobs for which $200k/yr fee paid to US Treasury would still be worth it for ~instant processing, and it's inefficient/bad for everyone to not have that as an option.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#145

Post by lotsofpulp »

22SAS wrote: post #122
lotsofpulp wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And yet if you had $500k or $1M as a lump sum years ago, you could simply have bought your way into the US with an EB-5. $900k or $1.8M now: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent...

It got changed to $800K minimum in March 2022.

Thanks for the update. Interestingly enough, the targeted employment area (TEA) amount was brought down from $900k to $800k, but the non TEA amount was brought down all the way from $1.8M to $1.05M, with both figures to be adjusted per inflation every five years.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#146

Post by bckygldstn »

bckygldstn wrote: post #143
asdf_snar wrote: post #31

I can only say this sounds extremely accurate based on my own experience of F-1, OPT, H1B. The anxiety resonates as well. I remember getting my work authorization card and noticing that my first name and last name were switched. I remember sitting down at a train station and nearly breaking down into tears, because I was certain this mistake wouldn't be tolerated, that I'd lose my job, and have to leave the country.

My green card had my name correct but someone else's face printed on it! Unfortunately they didn't look at all like me, it took ages to get fixed. I wonder if someone else got my face on their card, or if they use a grumpy bald man as a placeholder in their card template. My name is also misspelt on my social security card. I didn't bother to have that corrected and so far there have been zero repercussions.

One more story. When applying for an Amex card they had my name as "Andre" instead of Andrew (this one is probably a typo on my end).

Before approving the application, the Amex agent did a 3-way conference call with me and an agent from my bank to confirm the details in my application.

Amex: "Can you confirm the customer's name is André?"

Bank: "Yes, I confirm the customer's name is Andrew."

Amex: "Thank you for confirming, André your application has been approved"

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#147

Post by ddorian43 »

notch656a wrote: post #115
itissid wrote: post #88

One of the constant dichotomies that i(and maybe other immigrants) live with are these: The privilege of being a model minority [1] [2] yet being on the edge of having to lose it all if the immigration system shits itself. One might be a senior software engineer paying 100K + in taxes and probably drive EVs and own a home, your largest infraction are parking tickets, yet the risks are asymmetric; the whims of bureauc…

>a border guard who is having a bad day. This is not to be understated. I was born a US citizen. Last time I entered the country, officers faked that a dog had alerted "on my anus", forcibly strip searched me, and fabricated a story that plastic baggies that they suspected 'could be drugs' were coming out of my ass. I was shackled and cuffed and dragged around the state of Arizona for 16 hours while publicly paraded…

Why did you deny an x-ray? I understand anal probing but don't understand x-ray?

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#148

Post by xyzzyz »

circlefavshape wrote: post #23
melony wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't the US have tax agreements with most countries? You still have to pay tax on US income.

It's not US income if you don't live in the US. You pay income tax based on where you live, not where you employer lives

US taxes all income you earn anywhere in the world. It’s not that bad in practice, as first $100k or something earned abroad is exempt, and there are anti double taxation treaties with many countries, but overall, if you’re a US citizen abroad, you might owe US taxes.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#149

Post by random314 »

twofornone wrote: post #72
codegeek wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never understand this argument. If someone leaves their country to migrate, aren't they looking for a better life ? Just because India requires you to live for 12 years, Indian citizens should just shut up/put up with 18+ years of waiting because their country of origin has it worse/same ? This sounds a lot like "We gave you US citizenship. So shut up and stop criticizing the Govt because you came from a 3rd world…

Are foreign peoples entitled to US citizenship? Where is the obligation to make the process easy and open to everyone coming from?

Were Europeans entitled to American land 500 years ago? What did Columbus' visa application look like?

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#150

Post by random314 »

lgbrandon wrote: post #117
vgatherps wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I was born in a country with an extremely bad immigration system, I lose the right to complain about the bad-but-maybe-not-as-bad immigration system in another country that I'm trying to immigrate to?

Exactly. I love hearing the people "complain" but try and make the journey or stay. With remote work and automation becoming the norm. Soon we won't need to leave our respective countries and can all co-exist.

Yes, nobody should complain.
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