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H1B rejected – builds unicorn back home

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Re: H1B rejected – builds unicorn back home

#181
post #140

This is definitely an inspiring story but isn't it an isolated data point? On average, the US has a lot of things going for it for a young software professional if he or she can navigate the immigration maze and is reasonably lucky. Might not be for everyone but for the average person, getting a cushy job in a large company might be better for stability and long term satisfaction that risking it on an attempt to crea…

Its an extremely isolated data point. He was born rich. Had the money and privilege to do coaching to go to an elite Indian engineering college. Went to US from there. When he came back his buddies from college where VCs. They funded him. His startup collapsed terribly even after so much of luck, privilege and funding. So now he gives outdated gyaan(wisdom) in Twitter.

Doesn't that make his point stronger? If you are well connected, rich, and went to an elite college, it would make even more sense for the US to give you the visa.

Re: H1B rejected – builds unicorn back home

#182
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The current system is in place only because all of the US companies that benefit from cheap labor provided by the likes of Infosys have lobbied for it.

I doubt it is cheaper at all. H-1B applications must pass the prevailing wage test, i.e. applicants cannot earn less than the prevailing wage for their position at the chosen employment location. Companies like Tata, Infosys, WiPro, etc. need to maintain a part of their workforce in the US for certain projects anyway, so they slave away these applicants with draconian contracts. It's not that they pay them significan…

How could it not be cheaper- H1B applicants have to perform their jobs virtually under threat of deportation. How are they negotiating for regular raises or stock refreshers in that situation? How often are they changing jobs due to poor working conditions or personal growth if their sponsorship could be jeopardized?

Re: H1B rejected – builds unicorn back home

#183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The mental model many people seem to have is "foreigners will pay us exorbitant amounts of tuition for a prestigious diploma, and education isn't actually valuable so we might as well send them back home". And it's only mildly surprising people think this way. The median American does seem to go through an educational system that takes all their money and gives them a diploma without actually providing valuable exper…

What’s funny is that my (foreign) wife got her masters at a state school in the US with a US scholarship and was sent back after she graduated.

Many US scholarship comes from private money. So having a scholarship doesn't automatically grant citizenship or people would abuse the system and limits would need to be placed on students studying.

Re: H1B rejected – builds unicorn back home

#185
post #111

As an American from an immigrant family, I think the US is really losing here. We should be giving visas out liberally to any skilled professional who wants one. Immigration is the only thing that ever truly made the US stand out. On the other hand, as a global citizen with multiple passports who hasn't lived in the US for some time, maybe this is a good thing for the rest of the world. Spreading innovation out a bit…

What always boggled my mind is we allow students to come study in the University system, but then when they graduate send them away. I suspect a platform of "We will train foreigners to enrich their homelands" wouldn't get much popular support, but it's the de-facto rule we live under.

What do you mean we send them away? Should we hold them against their will? If they want to stay there are ways to stay.

Re: H1B rejected – builds unicorn back home

#186
post #6

Since it’s not mentioned in the tweet, the unicorn in question is Snapdeal. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapdeal

An enormous loss for America, no doubt.

This must be sarcastic because this seems like Amazon.

Re: H1B rejected – builds unicorn back home

#187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What always boggled my mind is we allow students to come study in the University system, but then when they graduate send them away. I suspect a platform of "We will train foreigners to enrich their homelands" wouldn't get much popular support, but it's the de-facto rule we live under.

The mental model many people seem to have is "foreigners will pay us exorbitant amounts of tuition for a prestigious diploma, and education isn't actually valuable so we might as well send them back home". And it's only mildly surprising people think this way. The median American does seem to go through an educational system that takes all their money and gives them a diploma without actually providing valuable exper…

The median American 25 or older has less than an associates (2-year) degree.

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/educatio...

Re: H1B rejected – builds unicorn back home

#188
post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What’s funny is that my (foreign) wife got her masters at a state school in the US with a US scholarship and was sent back after she graduated.

Many US scholarship comes from private money. So having a scholarship doesn't automatically grant citizenship or people would abuse the system and limits would need to be placed on students studying.

I don't think there is any country in the world that gives citizenship based on a grant. These people just want a chance at finding a relevant job in the US using their newly earned skills.

Re: H1B rejected – builds unicorn back home

#189
post #111

As an American from an immigrant family, I think the US is really losing here. We should be giving visas out liberally to any skilled professional who wants one. Immigration is the only thing that ever truly made the US stand out. On the other hand, as a global citizen with multiple passports who hasn't lived in the US for some time, maybe this is a good thing for the rest of the world. Spreading innovation out a bit…

Alternate viewpoint, we have more than enough students graduating in Computer Science and other STEM fields, many of whom have a hard time finding a job because most companies don't want to invest in training anyone up anymore, and they're enabled by the H1B program. If we incentivized/forced companies to build people up from basic college graduate again, it would be even better than finding skilled immigrants.

The average H1B is more talented than the average American STEM graduate. That's why they're having trouble getting jobs.

Re: H1B rejected – builds unicorn back home

#190
post #111

As an American from an immigrant family, I think the US is really losing here. We should be giving visas out liberally to any skilled professional who wants one. Immigration is the only thing that ever truly made the US stand out. On the other hand, as a global citizen with multiple passports who hasn't lived in the US for some time, maybe this is a good thing for the rest of the world. Spreading innovation out a bit…

What always boggled my mind is we allow students to come study in the University system, but then when they graduate send them away. I suspect a platform of "We will train foreigners to enrich their homelands" wouldn't get much popular support, but it's the de-facto rule we live under.

This is precisely what the Fulbright scholarship program is for:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulbright_Program

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