Engineer's Guide to US Visas • Hacker News Board

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#71

Post by bertil » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 2:20 PM UTC

davidw wrote: post #55

buro9 wrote: post #26

There are two things that give me serious pause about living and working in the USA, and that have made me not pursue or accept opportunities that I've been offered in Seattle and San Francisco. 1) Visas & immigration 2) Health

I agree those things are less than optimal in the US, but at a personal level: 1) The visa stuff is a PITA, but if you are in a situation where you can tell some company to deal with it, it shouldn't be too bad. 2) You get pretty good health care working for most companies in the US as a programmer. If you lose your job, you can presumably relocate to where you were before that has a different health care system.

Most European countries have a health-care system that depends on you being part of the system: children of someone insured, student, employee, spouse, unemployed who was employed before and often manager of a company. Having worked abroad and recently coming into the country after non paying taxes (with presumably your life in disarray because the company you dedicated yourself too fired you, closed or proved to be a sham) sets you clearly out of that system.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#72

Post by davidw » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 2:24 PM UTC

bertil wrote: post #71

davidw wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree those things are less than optimal in the US, but at a personal level: 1) The visa stuff is a PITA, but if you are in a situation where you can tell some company to deal with it, it shouldn't be too bad. 2) You get pretty good health care working for most companies in the US as a programmer. If you lose your job, you can presumably relocate to where you were before that has a different health care system.

Most European countries have a health-care system that depends on you being part of the system: children of someone insured, student, employee, spouse, unemployed who was employed before and often manager of a company. Having worked abroad and recently coming into the country after non paying taxes (with presumably your life in disarray because the company you dedicated yourself too fired you, closed or proved to be…

Here in Italy, if you're a citizen, you are covered, period, as far as I can tell. Naturally, you have to be in Italy, but other than that, I don't think there's any reason for them to refuse to treat you.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#73

Post by venomsnake » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 2:28 PM UTC

What is the situation if you are cofounder of startup? So you own some part of US company.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#74

Post by anextio » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 2:29 PM UTC

speeq wrote: post #65

"L-1 visa for inter-company transfers If you've worked for the company in a foreign subsidiary for at least one year in the preceding three years, you may be eligible for a L-1 visa. When the H-1B cap is reached, large companies like Google often look to L-1s instead, moving new employees to their Canadian offices for a year to make them eligible. The foreign subsidiary must be related to its US counterpart in one of…

USCIS is generally very wary about L-1 abuse. The US company would need a full staff and board of directors.

i.e. Both sides of the equation have to be real companies doing real things who have a legitimate need to occasionally bring employees across. Neither of the companies can exist solely to funnel workers into the US.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#75

Post by untog » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 2:34 PM UTC

buro9 wrote: post #26

There are two things that give me serious pause about living and working in the USA, and that have made me not pursue or accept opportunities that I've been offered in Seattle and San Francisco. 1) Visas & immigration 2) Health

Honestly, the visa and immigration stuff is more of a problem for the company hiring you than for you yourself. As someone originally from the UK, I'll agree with the health stuff, though. The system here is an utter mess.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#76

Post by moondowner » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 2:35 PM UTC

nodemaker wrote: post #62

ashray wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did you move to Amsterdam ? Is it like fulltime work or did you sponsor yourself with an EU Blue Card ? I'm always interested in learning about the various possibilities engineers have around the world! :)

I applied to a few companies, got an offer and moved with a Dutch residence and work permit. The whole thing took about a month. There is a huge demand for skilled engineers in the EU.

Indeed there is, I have a friend (Java developer, early 40ties) who moved to Amsterdam with his wife and two kids. It's pretty easy for in-demand jobs.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#77

Post by untog » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 2:36 PM UTC

raverbashing wrote: post #46

It's not worth it You can get a "similar to H1B" visa in Ireland in 2 months time and a lot less paperwork. Germany (and other countries I believe) has a similar schema. With some requirements slightly higher than an H1-B you can be a permanent resident of Canada (maybe Australia and England as well, though I'm not sure how the conditions are on the latter today) So, why bother?

So, why bother?

Better pay and opportunities, it's as simple as that. Having lived in the UK and Canada, I can say that the tech (and particularly startup) industry in the US is simply much bigger and more advanced than other places I've been.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#78

Post by ojbyrne » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 2:44 PM UTC

donohoe wrote: post #69

Credit History It would be worth adding a note about Credit history and some simple steps you can do to start establishing a good one. I recall getting a joint-loan with my wife (girlfriend at the time) to get things started. I'm sure there are many other ways.

Secured (not pre-paid) credit cards worked for me.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#79

Post by raverbashing » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 2:49 PM UTC

untog wrote: post #77

raverbashing wrote: post #46

It's not worth it You can get a "similar to H1B" visa in Ireland in 2 months time and a lot less paperwork. Germany (and other countries I believe) has a similar schema. With some requirements slightly higher than an H1-B you can be a permanent resident of Canada (maybe Australia and England as well, though I'm not sure how the conditions are on the latter today) So, why bother?

So, why bother? Better pay and opportunities, it's as simple as that. Having lived in the UK and Canada, I can say that the tech (and particularly startup) industry in the US is simply much bigger and more advanced than other places I've been.

Yes I suppose one can make 100k in the valley. And pay how much again for rent?

The pay and the opportunities are better, but they may not be significantly better to justify it.

In the valley it looks like everything will get an angel round if it stands still long enough or go to enough CV meetings but it is not all there is to life or a career.

Re: Engineer's Guide to US Visas

#80

Post by cbaleanu » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 2:50 PM UTC

buro9 wrote: post #26

There are two things that give me serious pause about living and working in the USA, and that have made me not pursue or accept opportunities that I've been offered in Seattle and San Francisco. 1) Visas & immigration 2) Health

Should also add that if you are married, your wife / husband cannot work if you are on H1B.

I found this deeply disturbing, as my wife is a skilled professional in another field and if I were to accept an H1B offer, she would had to become a house wife more or less.