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Tell HN: My own version of the American dream

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Re: Tell HN: My own version of the American dream

#31

Post by RankingMember »

puranjay wrote: post #18
buffoon wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep that ain't likely to work. For every success story there are 99 failures. Get a popular cert. Work premium contract jobs (£600/day here). Screw the market hard and retire after 20 years with some reasonable cash. Sure you're not going to be Musk or Zuck rich but how much money do you really need? Take equity if someone offers it but not in lieu of hard cash. I've made about £20k in equity pay outs which isn't a w…

It's practical and you'll be right 8 times out of 10. But it also assumes that the only motivation for starting a company is money. I'm running a startup that solves a very real problem lots of people have. The money is a nice bonus, but the real thrill is being able to solve a problem. If you have an engineering brain, you know this as well: solving a problem just feels good. Doesn't matter whether the problem is fi…

Puranjay, sorry for off-topic, but your startup idea intrigues me. Let me know if you have a website or something I can look at. Thanks.

bmills@forward.cat

Re: Tell HN: My own version of the American dream

#32

Post by mattlutze »

wyclif wrote: post #30
buffoon wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep that ain't likely to work. For every success story there are 99 failures. Get a popular cert. Work premium contract jobs (£600/day here). Screw the market hard and retire after 20 years with some reasonable cash. Sure you're not going to be Musk or Zuck rich but how much money do you really need? Take equity if someone offers it but not in lieu of hard cash. I've made about £20k in equity pay outs which isn't a w…

What do you use to find out which certs are popular?

Two thoughts:

1. Look at places like Stack Exchange to see which sub-fields are getting a lot of questions.

2. Look at tech jobs listing sites and see what they're including on their nice to have / must have lists in their listings.

Re: Tell HN: My own version of the American dream

#33

Post by DrNuke »

You have done a lot, so congrats. Now you should refocus to make your dream really happen imho: have a look at countries near home (Argentina, Canada?) and try to climb the ladder from a friendlier environment instead of risking wreckage in a pond that basically does not need (saturated with techies) and does not want (severe visa issues) you yet. Good luck!

Re: Tell HN: My own version of the American dream

#34

Post by datarobot »

South American here did something similar and I can say one thing: the American dream is dead... at least for immigrants.

With unintelligent politicians and immigration policies, it's REALLY hard to start your own company. Even if you raise 1M+ still is REALLY hard to get/transfer your H1-B visa. It doesn't matter if you're the CEO. I know it seems ridiculously stupid, and it is.

In addition, things will NOT get better. People like Trump and other 'fake right-wing socialists' will continue to maintain an idiotic immigration policy and there won't 'be a way'. South Americans(even if legal) feel disdain and hatred in the disguised eyes of niceness.

I would EXTREMELY suggest you to consider certain EU countries with a more reasonable immigration policy. My experiences have been great and never did anyone looked down on me because I'm hispanic or that I speak Spanish(duh).

Re: Tell HN: My own version of the American dream

#36

Post by sealthedeal »

mabbo wrote: post #24

Everyone is telling you that basically America is a no go. Try Canada. Vancouver and Toronto have small but growing startup scenes, lots of big companies opening offices up north as well. Canada is pretty welcoming to immigrants, as long as you're earning enough to pay the fairly high taxes.

good luck trying to get into Canada...

Re: Tell HN: My own version of the American dream

#37

Post by humanrebar »

datarobot wrote: post #34

South American here did something similar and I can say one thing: the American dream is dead... at least for immigrants. With unintelligent politicians and immigration policies, it's REALLY hard to start your own company. Even if you raise 1M+ still is REALLY hard to get/transfer your H1-B visa. It doesn't matter if you're the CEO. I know it seems ridiculously stupid, and it is. In addition, things will NOT get bett…

Hey, there's plenty of blame to go around. "Comprehensive immigration reform" is a buzzword meaning "either we solve all immigration problems or we solve none of them". Trump and other knuckleheads notwithstanding, there is wide acceptance on both sides of the aisle that immigration should be easier for high skilled people and entrepreneurs.

Re: Tell HN: My own version of the American dream

#38

Post by austenallred »

steven2012 wrote: post #10

Sorry to be negative, but it will be almost impossible for you to get a job here this way, unless you are from a country that has a flexible work visa arrangement (Canada, Australia, etc). In fact, you could get banned from entering the country for 10+ years if you lie as to your intent for entering the US and you get found out. And if you tell them your intent is to find a job, you will also be denied. It's a no-win…

As an American, if we continue to turn down would-be immigrants like this, we are shooting ourselves in the foot.

Re: Tell HN: My own version of the American dream

#39

Post by smoyer »

Well Stephen ... it's ironic (to me) that you view SV (and more generally the US) as your technological Mecca when I've been considering where I might live if my government continues to engage in practices I can't endorse. The great thing about "software eating the world" is that you can make if from anywhere. I'd recommend you develop your on-line presence and start networking (virtually is fine) with those you wish to emulate.

Either way - Good luck!

Re: Tell HN: My own version of the American dream

#40

Post by akshat_h »

Not at all sure of the legality of this, so if someone else can comment that would be good. If your are coming to US, I would recommend you try to find a remote working job at startups,and then go back. The visa situation being what it is, as others have suggested, doesn't really leave you with that many options. Also it is arguable whether being physically present in SF would help that much to offset the cost of coming and staying there for whatever time required.
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