H1B during 2008/Dot Com bubble
I couldn't find a lot of info online about this. Wanted to know what happened to the H1B holders during previous recessions where there aren't many jobs and many had to be let go. Returning back to home country is the only option from what I can see, given it'll be difficult to find a new job in 60 days during such periods.
Back then there were very less h1bs.
That prolly explains why there's no news about this. Still curious what those few did or what legal options are available in these situations.
Most of them sucked it up and went back. Some got lucky and got into unknown companies and didn't realize they were home-runs!
I was in IBM India from 2008 to 2011 supporting the immigration team . No one who was onsite ever returned. (At least not in Pune). When projects got closed, those who were onsite either joined the client or became consultants at shady places or went to college. I did not hear of anyone out of the 1200 or so onsite resources who actually returned.
Can't believe IBM was still hiring back then. The other alternatives are essentially hacks, not really a solution. Thanks for the detailed reply..
Green card was much faster. You had to sail through for 1 year and you were all set.
One guy returned to his hometown in India. Ended up creating a SaaS unicorn with his friends over the next 10 years.
Getting H1B isn't the concern. You have to be employed at all times to stay in the country. My concern is with the chances of recessions going up, there's a chance a lot of people would essentially be kicked out if that happens.
It is. The quality of work and lifestyle is drastically different than where I'm from. Also I've lived here long enough to identify myself culturally better to Americans. I would prefer staying here.
Legally many people went back to home country because they couldn’t find jobs.. there are some people found shady employers where they paid money to the employer to run the pay check monthly until they found a job and some folks joined school where the provide cpt on day one..so they can stay legal and use it for jobs..
Thanks. Yea I'm not so desperate to do anything illegal.