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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

#141

Post by NearAP »

inoop wrote: 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…

> It took the USCIS four months to let me know that my application was not selected....

Simply being curious here - didn't Apple provide you with the case ID? Typically, when you submit an Application to USCIS, you get an ID that allows you to check your status online and maybe you would have been able to know immediately that your application was not selected.

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

#142

Post by jmspring »

This is a complicated topic that I've been waffling on responding too.

The situation around h1b visas is messed up. But the mess is multisided. First off, there is a large amount of unemployment in this country in the IT sector (especially around older workers) and no apparent desire to fix it. Second, there are "sweat shops"/consulting bodies milking the system to under pay for what is often basic/menial work like CRUD development/etc. Third you have the specialists at the whim of (2) and the number of allotted slots.

I think both (1) and (3) need to be fixed at the expense of (2). Any company bringing over labor that is basic and can either be filled by outsourcing contracts or simply training local labor should pay the price. Tata, IBM, Wipro, etc are at the top of that list.

The current system has few filters.

Edits: typos from posting using phone.

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

#143

Post by jordanthoms »

jmspring wrote: post #142

This is a complicated topic that I've been waffling on responding too. The situation around h1b visas is messed up. But the mess is multisided. First off, there is a large amount of unemployment in this country in the IT sector (especially around older workers) and no apparent desire to fix it. Second, there are "sweat shops"/consulting bodies milking the system to under pay for what is often basic/menial work like C…

Seems one of the easier fixes would be to rank H1B applicants by salary rather than doing a lottery. It's supposed to be used for highly skilled workers, so I don't see why people would have a problem with it.

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

#144

Post by bduerst »

rdtsc wrote: post #127
inoop wrote: 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…

>there is a cap and one reason is probably because opening the gates wide open will skew the job market in US.

Maybe.

One of the factors evaluated for h1b approval is whether or not the immigrant's salary is higher than the mean wages for U.S. citizens working in the same SOC category in the same area.

"Opening the floodgates" would only serve to skew the average salary upwards for citizens, which is good for skilled labor.

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

#145

Post by McDoku »

cperciva wrote: post #97
paul wrote: 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…

Real estate is better in Montreal. Was paying 2K for small loft 700sqft in Gastown vs 1.3K for a 1600sqft loft in Old Montreal with a view of the basilica.

Startup dollars will go further here and the office will be twice as awesome. Much easier for new people to make friends and the art scene is not priced out. Montreal is undeniably more fun.

And lord, the festivals... Mind you, winter lives here but it is sunny even when it snows. Rain will tends to drive most people in BC a bit wonky.

I would say do Montreal if it is in the summer. Else BC. Or if it is about the quick plane ride to silicon valley, same deal.

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

#146

Post by Everlag »

papercruncher wrote: post #44
pskittle wrote: post #29

Has anyone here been hired by or hires engineers for an american company which has an office in Vancouver? Would you be kind enough to talk about you experience

I worked in Vancouver as a Microsoft employee for a few years, it was a great experience. Ping me if you want to chat

Just a heads up, your blog's domain expired twelve days ago.

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

#147

Post by afafsd »

mschuster91 wrote: post #137
disbelief wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trust me, EU countries have their own immigration demand problems. Especially a place like Germany which has one of the few functioning economies in the block lately. People flock there looking for work. Other countries with huge immigration demand include England and Spain. There are simply better ways of dealing with high immigration demand than "dump everyone into a pot regardless of education/experience/viability…

> Other countries with huge immigration demand include England and Spain Spain is just wanted due to the proximity to Africa and a lot of African immigrants/refugees using this vector. > There are simply better ways of dealing with high immigration demand than "dump everyone into a pot regardless of education/experience/viability/urgency and randomly select a few". We Germans deal with asylum seekers by putting > 2.5…

Ah, y'see that's why we, in Australia, stick our asylum seekers in camps in different countries like Nauru and Papua New Guinea, where whatever problems they cause are safely out of sight.

My opinion is that the world seriously needs a new refugee convention to prevent economic migrants from abusing the refugee system. The governing idea should be that you can't use refugee status to move from a poorer country to a significantly richer one. If you're a genuine refugee then moving to a safer country with similar per-capita-GDP is something you should be happy with.

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

#148

Post by afafsd »

cperciva wrote: post #97
paul wrote: 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…

> I know plenty of talented Canadians and Europeans who don't want to live in the US due to the current political climate.

Don't worry, Obama will be gone in '16!

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

#149

Post by afafsd »

jbarham wrote: post #139
paul wrote: 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…

> Maybe you think that Sergey Brin and Paul Graham stole their jobs from some hard working, native born Americans. Straw man. Sergey Brin didn't immigrate to the US, his parents did and he came along for the ride as a child. Nobody begrudges the success of children of immigrants to the US (which by definition is everyone but the native Americans), but middle aged, unemployed American programmers may well resent compa…

>which by definition is everyone but the native Americans

Uhh, you do know Native Americans aren't actually native, right? They're from Africa like the rest of us.

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

#150

Post by scg »

jordanthoms wrote: post #135
turar wrote: post #19

This is a repeat of the same story that happened the last time H-1B limit didn't meet the demand for visas. US tech companies, most notably Microsoft, opened "offices" in Vancouver. What happens next is that those employees will work for 1 year in Canada, and then will become eligible for L-1 intra-company transfer back to the US, side-stepping the H-1B quagmire.

Problem with the L1 is that as I understand it, if you are on a L1 you can't apply for a green card or a H1B to stay more permanently in the US. So you are basically wedded to the company you have the visa with.

You can apply for a Green Card while you are on an L1 visa.
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