Live data from Hacker News

Vancouver tech surges as U.S. immigration reform idles

cbc.ca

231–240 of 339 posts

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

#231
post #183
post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In terms of immigrants as a percentage of population the US is nothing special. Canada has a lot more (closer to 19% instead of 14%). Many European countries have statistics similar to that of the US (Sweden has a bit more, the UK a bit less, etc). But I digress. The problem with the existing system is that it is insane and a waste of resources. One has to get a lawyer and wait for a long time with no certainty in th…

It's interesting, actually. In some ways the US is actually the small-government low-regulation country that it likes to pretend to be, but in other areas it's just a labyrinth of aggresive mollases-paced bureaucracy. Examples: Example: the DMV. In both Australia and the US the procedure for getting my licence renewed is the same. I go into an office, I fill out a form, they take a picture, and I get a licence. The d…

To defend the DMV. I renewed my license online and it was mailed to me. Took 5mins.

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

#232
post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good genes?! This is the most racist thing I've read on HN. I see why you have a throwaway account.

If he had just said "talented", I suspect it would not have been controversial (at least that part). But "talent" often hints at heritage.

There are plenty of untalented natives in any country. I do not think the government is particularly good at spotting talent. We should just let everyone in IMO.

Besides, "talent" can mean many things. Is the Mexican mother who can't speak English and doesn't have a college degree (maybe not even high school), but can make BAD ASS food and is capable of raising a family of 5 talented?

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

#233
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…

You know why you lost the lottery? Because Indian outsourcing firms like Infosys, Wipro flooded it with applications to bring in cheap labor! There's no talent or extraordinary ability among the people they bring in. IMO, outsourcing companies should be banned from h1-b/greencard, period. Banning them, I doubt the H1-B quota will even fill-up EDIT: In response to the downvoters, Im Indian myself and I know the qualit…

All the people I know in Infosys/Wipro speaking English perfectly fine. While for some position they don't get the cream of the crop they are still companies that server a worldwide customer base. You are exaggerating or thinking of other outsourcing firms (there are bad ones for sure with mediocre talent)

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

#234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if the spouse does not want to raise children but rather would prefer to work. What if the partners would prefer to both raise the children and both work less? "Just go raise some children" just promotes the gender inequality that people have been trying to fix for ages.

Are you assuming BrainInAJar is a man and the mentioned spouse is his wife, and not vice versa?

I'm not assuming anything: It's the same response both ways round. It should be the couples decision on how to organize their life and their child-rearing duties.

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

#235
post #228
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…

Get O visa, as a PhD holder you should be fine. E visa is also a possibility, though it costs at least $100k to get in.

I tried for O, but was told my resume was not strong enough, even with a PhD from a good European university, and several a-rank publications.

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

#236
post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 ev…

As someone who grew up in Montreal, and moved to Silicon Valley, one of the appeals of SV is the weather. Montreal winters are long, cold, and dark. These are not conditions everyone wants to live in. Additionally, the Office De La Langue Francaise will make the life of any English company a nightmare. To top it all off, taxes in Quebec are absurdly high (especially considering the quality of social services). So whi…

Well, taxes for individuals with out a lawyer or a good accountant. I think there if you spent the time making a deal with Quebec they would accomodate.

Secondly, it is cheap to hire someone for translation and companies should launch with multiple languages. It just increase the global audience for the product. I am sure YC could develop the capacity to translate the product at little cost.

Peixe Urbano, Baidu ... etc clones eat up the market that VC backed startup could accomodate for.

http://www.rudebaguette.com/2012/02/21/against-copycat-debat...

Winter... well try the rain in BC for a winter. Again I have no issue, I am from the Peg (Winnipeg) where it was -58 last year. It is the same weather as NYC and close to Boston (MIT, Harvard)

I know there is alot of development capital floating around.

http://www.investquebec.com/quebec/en/financial-products/smb...

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

#237
post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why don't you want open borders? You haven't said why it's bad.

Immigration is very important for all countries, but assimilation takes time. (If you believe in the country enough to want to immigrate there, then the existing culture must have some value.) Ask Syria, Iraq or South Sudan, how they are enjoying their open borders. Meanwhile, Iceland, Japan and other countries are doing fine. Arguably, they could be richer if they allowed in more immigrants, but I'll take the rule o…

Was it a love for Native American culture that caused the original European settlers to come to the US? No, it was raw opportunity. Unless you're talking about Native American culture, then ALL culture in the US was constructed by immigrants.

Even Native Americans were immigrants as they crossed the Bering land bridge ;)

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

#238
post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the UK they at least aim to give you a decision on your visa in ~3 weeks at least 90% of the time, and there isn't just one window during which you're allowed to apply. https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general/overview Germany hopes for 1-3 months: http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/05__Legal/02__Dire... (Coincidentally, I'm trying to relocate to the UK -- or an English-language friendly part of the EU, like the N…

Depending on where exactly you are from, the Dutch process will impose an exam on you and an income requirement for your partner, and can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Easier process than in the US, but not exactly an easy one.

Not sure about that. If you are in Tech (or IT as they like to call it here), you can probably qualify for the Knowledge Migrant permit ance chances are the process is a lot faster. Took me about 10 days to get a work permit in the Netherlands but I did have an employer willing to sponsor me. Another friend of mine (also in IT) took him about 1 week also.

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

#239
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…

European countries immigration systems are not equal. Just getting a job in Switzerland if you are foreigner is considerably harder. The employer has to demonstrate that no native would be able to your job. The government will send him unemployed locals and employer has to write what exactly disqualified that local. It is considerable hustle, so most of them do not bother.

Plus, as a foreigner in Switzerland, you will always be looked down upon. It is hard to get accepted as equal.

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

#240
post #189
post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 ev…

I've lived in Montreal (born & raised), Silicon Valley, and currently Vancouver. You're right that in Montreal, investment dollars will go much further, and it is a more interesting city for a young person. If you are looking for a place to incubate, as a young company, Montreal might be almost perfect. Similarly, it's a great deal for a student. But then you have to grow up and live there. The tech talent pool is ve…

Hiring has been a bit tough here, but we have also tried Ireland, Bulgaria..etc... Good people are hard to find period

My kingdom for a fullstack capable graphic designer.

Post reply on HN