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Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

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Re: Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

#121

Vancouver guy here. I work for a media company as a part of a ~60 member software team. The fact is that probably less than ten people in the team are actually from Vancouver. Several of them are people who lived in the US on H1B visas that they couldn't get renewed. They come here "temporarily" but then like the lifestyle and stay. I totally agree that the messed up US immigration system has benefited us here. I hav…

Yea, I recently started looking at one of those high-demand fields permanent residency programs that Canada offers. Looks pretty inviting and very little hassle as compared to the US immigration.

Re: Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

#122
post #15

I think if we ever start a second YC location, this will be the reason -- to help founders who are unable to get past the US immigration system. It's unfortunate that our government is becoming increasingly dysfunctional at every level -- federal, state, and local governments are all failing to do their jobs. I'm glad that Canada is introducing some competitive pressure.

I think if we ever start a second YC location, this will be the reason Please do. Tarsnap will apply to be part of YC Vancouver if it happens. (I'm assuming that if you create a YC somewhere outside of the US it would be in Vancouver, because really, nowhere else in the world is anywhere near as awesome.) FWIW, I think there's two "markets" of which you've only mentioned one -- in addition to founders who can't get U…

Adding my +1. I left the Valley to come back to Canada, because as awesome as the Valley is, I can't see myself building a life there. As an engineer, getting a visa is much easier than it is for most, but it's still an unnecessary stressor.

Re: Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

#123
post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Countries in the EU (and elsewhere) have more sane immigration systems. As a Canadian having immigrated to both Germany and the US, I can say that the US system is at least two orders of magnitude more difficult, costly, needlessly complicated, and in the end a lot of it comes down to luck (most of it bad). Germany has no lottery system, and renewal is very straightforward. I applied for my visa while in Germany as a…

One reason why non-American countries have "easier" immigration systems is often demand related. Your example "H1-B lottery" is precisely demand related.

I'm not sure about the "demand" angle here. Demand is sorted out at the interview stage on a company-level. Once the position has been filled up, it shouldn't be counted towards demand. Hence it should not be subject to lottery. The fact that US has more job opportunities for foreigners compared to, say, Germany in high-tech only means that industry is more thriving in the former. I doubt jobs are created BECAUSE more people wanna move to the US. And by the way, the job search process itself is partly a lottery - it's never 100% about merits.

Re: Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

#124
post #117
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given that I also mentioned state and local government, it should be clear that I'm referring to more than just immigration issues. I get your point though. I'm an evil capitalist who doesn't want to fund Americans because they are unwilling to give up 7% equity, or something like that. Maybe you think that Sergey Brin and Paul Graham stole their jobs from some hard working, native born Americans. That's the problem…

My point is you're asking for visa changes to directly benefit, well, you. With most likely only tenuous benefits for others. And frankly, I do believe that Google -- and yes, YC too, viewing YC as somewhat of an umbrella organization of the companies it has incubated -- bear a certain responsibility to Americans that importing foreign workers has helped you sidestep. There's plenty of engineers here who can't / don'…

I think you misunderstood my point about YC and Google -- they would not exist without their foreign born founders. If you think the existence of Google is only of tenuous benefit to others, then I don't know what to say :)

Re: Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

#125
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

American citizens are not entitled to work in the EU. If an American wants to plan their long-term life around working in the EU, that is far from a sure thing. Even with a masters and PhD. So why should the US be singled out for this?

Countries in the EU (and elsewhere) have more sane immigration systems. As a Canadian having immigrated to both Germany and the US, I can say that the US system is at least two orders of magnitude more difficult, costly, needlessly complicated, and in the end a lot of it comes down to luck (most of it bad). Germany has no lottery system, and renewal is very straightforward. I applied for my visa while in Germany as a…

What's your definition of sane? None of those countries have the scale, frequency and volume of demand that resembles anything like the US.[1]

> Contrast that with how things work in the US (which I don't have time to get into in an HN comment), and you'll see why it deserves to be singled out for this.

I don't think anyone is questioning that other countries have much more lax policies. The question is what is your solution?

As someone who is a US citizen, held visas in Germany/UK, and has a Belgian technical co-founder trying to get the US, I understand this situation very well. But I simply can't sympathize with people who simply say "Why can't they just let me! It works elsewhere!" and offer no real solution that takes into consideration anything other than a "why not me" attitude.

[1] - http://247wallst.com/special-report/2013/09/25/countries-wit...

Re: Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

#126
post #67
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are referring to recent proposed visa changes, you appear to be defining dysfunctional as not passing visa programs very beneficial to a tiny group of people: incubators like YC, and owners / large investors in tech dependent startups. As not a member of those groups, that's quite a stretch.

Given that I also mentioned state and local government, it should be clear that I'm referring to more than just immigration issues. I get your point though. I'm an evil capitalist who doesn't want to fund Americans because they are unwilling to give up 7% equity, or something like that. Maybe you think that Sergey Brin and Paul Graham stole their jobs from some hard working, native born Americans. That's the problem…

> I believe that much of America's success is rooted in having an open and inclusive culture that attracts smart, ambitious, and determined people from around the world who come here and pursue their dreams.

Agreed. But who decides who fits that criteria [smart, ambitious, and determined people]?

Today - it's money and tomorrow it'll be the same.

Re: Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

#127
post #66

Earlier this year I interviewed for a research/engineering position at Apple. I was offered the job, took it, and went into the H1B lottery. It took the USCIS four months to let me know that my application was not selected, even though it was filed under 'premium processing', and the draw had been done using a computer in the first week after submissions closed. Since the job required me to be in Cupertino, the deal…

Just curious, what would you have done to fix the root issue -- handling a large number of H1B requests?

One answer is well why should there be a cap. Well there is a cap and one reason is probably because opening the gates wide open will skew the job market in US. For better or for worse it is hard to say but if you ask those in US they might say for worse.

So there is a cap. (And obviously it is being pushed against, there is demand, you wanted to work for Apple, others want to work for other companies and so on). So how to you fix the problem?

I can see these things as possible solutions:

1) First come first serve. That would be interesting, each year on a midnight of a particular date. Some server or some office in DC will will swamped with thousands of instantaneous requests. In less than 1 second it will all be over. Those with servers closer to the facility or those that have better synchronized clocks will win. Or put everyone in a long queue maybe and just wait year to year. Watch the queue extend for decades.

2) Make it an auction. So now each spot initially costs some processing fee to handle. Then well do first come first serve but increase the fee according to the demand. Maybe it takes $2k for initial spot. And $200k for last available.

> Since the job required me to be in Cupertino, the deal simply fell through.

Shouldn't you also blame Apple here too, at least just a bit. Presumably if there is this huge talent pool abroad they would at least consider opening an office in EU or let you work remotely in some capacity. Tech sector is interesting because that becomes possible (and has been done). I don't quite understand their position either. Here is a global company that they found a top person they want to join their team but well, they can't win some stupid lottery. Well fuck it, maybe they can do something more than just drop the deal? Wondering, what are you thoughts on Apple's position?

Re: Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

#128
post #72
post #66

Earlier this year I interviewed for a research/engineering position at Apple. I was offered the job, took it, and went into the H1B lottery. It took the USCIS four months to let me know that my application was not selected, even though it was filed under 'premium processing', and the draw had been done using a computer in the first week after submissions closed. Since the job required me to be in Cupertino, the deal…

American citizens are not entitled to work in the EU. If an American wants to plan their long-term life around working in the EU, that is far from a sure thing. Even with a masters and PhD. So why should the US be singled out for this?

[deleted]

Re: Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

#129

    - B.C.'s tech industry has many exploitative employers
    - B.C.'s tech market is underpayed, below national average.
    - B.C.'s living cost on average exceeds the average salary.
    - B.C.'s high real estate cost results in many house poor population.
    - B.C.'s political party places far more labor rights on nurses and people cutting down trees.
    - B.C. has a problem of bleeding talent to other provinces because of above reasons.
Source: I live here.

Re: Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

#130
post #127
post #66

Earlier this year I interviewed for a research/engineering position at Apple. I was offered the job, took it, and went into the H1B lottery. It took the USCIS four months to let me know that my application was not selected, even though it was filed under 'premium processing', and the draw had been done using a computer in the first week after submissions closed. Since the job required me to be in Cupertino, the deal…

Just curious, what would you have done to fix the root issue -- handling a large number of H1B requests? One answer is well why should there be a cap. Well there is a cap and one reason is probably because opening the gates wide open will skew the job market in US. For better or for worse it is hard to say but if you ask those in US they might say for worse. So there is a cap. (And obviously it is being pushed agains…

but if you ask those in US they might say for worse.

American here. I definitely wish it was easier for high-skilled people in other countries to obtain documents for working here.

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