Just an info on the process of H1B
Here on Blind, I have seen some posts where people say that H1Bs should not be hired, or the quota should be reduced from 85,000 to 500, as they are taking away American jobs. (we've heard the same about other immigrant communities, but for those coming on student visa, are apparently taking away American tech jobs) So let me tell you the process one has to go through, to reach here, the problems we face, and the compensation we make. 1. GRE and TOEFL exam - For many $400 worth of test is actually a lot of money. My salary in India started at $500 a month. 2. LORs, college specific application fee, and maybe interviews to get into a University 3. For visa, show 1-2 years of money in your account (including tuition fees, books, rent, air travel) 4. Do the Masters, probably get a research and or teaching assistantship to manage expenses. 5. After Master's, during a job fair, I was eligible for 5 out 50 companies because only they can sponsor visa. 6. If somehow you manage to get a job, then starts OPT application. Send forms to USCIS every 6 months to prove that what you're working on is directly related to the field of study, goals for next 6 months, achievements in the past 6 months. 7. Apply for OPT extension 8. H1B - Apply for H1B, get lucky to be picked up in a crazy lottery system with less than 50% chance, and be ready to leave the country if you don't get picked up in the lottery in 3 trials. If by chance you get picked up, there's now 20% chance, you can get RFE and get rejected, because some rando at USCIS was having a bad day. 9. If you get H1B, follow more process, fill several forms. If you want to change companies, those companies should also be ready to sponsor visas, and it can take at least 6 weeks. (you can get rejected there as well) 10. If a company decides to fire you, or you get caught in the lay off cycles, you have at most 60 days to find another job. (process of application and getting a call, setting interviews itself can take weeks, remember not all can sponsor visa, many times you clear interview and later they can change their mind on sponsorship). Many of my friends who did get picked up in the lottery system, or got laid off during downsizing, after going through the physically and mentally exhausting gymnastics mentioned before, had to pack their bags and leave everything. Sell of their cars. Find a sublet. Sell their stuff, and go back home sad. I get paid $250k.. With 5 yoe.. A lot of us do. Are there companies who are abusing the Visa system? Absolutely! Are there some people who aren't as qualified but they are used as cheap tech labourers to get the job done? Yes! Does that represent the majority who leetcode for months and run around every company at job fairs just to get a chance to interview? NO!!! So do you think those on H1B have it easy because you think companies somehow prefer H1Bs over citizens? I want to know why do you think companies would hire H1Bs when it's more complicated, unstable, expensive (attorneys and additional sponsorship), pay a good compensation, just to avoid hiring American citizens? Do you really think HRs are specifically selecting those on visas and ignoring others? I really want to know what you think. And what clarifications those on visa can give you. Note: I didn't get picked up in lottery system in the past 2 years. I'm on F1 and one more lucky draw. :) Haven't proofread this. So please ignore the typos.
H1B holders are in general more loyal to their role or manager because they are more scared of losing the job or leaving the country. And it’s not as easy for them to leave the job and find something else. So managers prefer them.
Merit based system is the need of the hour and not the lottery system. USCIS should fine abusive companies and they should be banned for filing further H1s.
One question: wouldn’t you be better off to work in your own country? Why do you through all this hell? Life in India and China isn’t bad for engineers. You can afford similar things and you get to enjoy living in your country with your people.
Both India and China are countries with terrible work culture
Why should I not go wherever capitalism takes me? Companies from the US can make billions in other countries but you don't want those countries to get a piece of capitalism?
One thing I want to highlight, on your point “very few companies sponsor Visa”- there is a good reason for this, they are not sponsoring Visa because they are obligated to do a favor by hiring people from foreign countries, but to get the best talent from a competitive talent pool which in turn will help them generate revenue/ profits. This is how businesses are run. As immigrants you should stop thinking that America owes you something. This is a wrong perception. America is a land of opportunities and a land of immigrants. Each immigrant had to go through her/his/(third gender) share of struggle to call America as their home. And, the process which you ranted about, is needed to make sure that skilled and talented people are brought in to address the labor gap in technology domain. An analogy, would you let anybody into your home, without getting to know why they want to get it? Similarly, think of America as a home which you don’t own as a foreign national. PS: I am an immigrant as well.
You misread. I never said the processes need not be there. I'm actually ok if it's gets stringent so that only the best make it. America doesn't owe me anything. But I don't owe Americans anything. If companies here can make billions as part of trade deals, then you should be allowed to be take a piece of that very capitalism. I don't think I as a citizen would complaint if a qualified immigrant takes my job. But that doesn't mean H1Bs are "preferred" over citizens. Which is not the case.
The only difference is that earlier immigrants just walked in to do any job aka the struggle while india/china have ridiculous wait lists and people from there have to essentially wait for decades due to artificial country caps. Classic nimbyism.
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This thread serves a good reminder as to the hatred towards Indian immigrants. If you notice, OP just talked about the struggles of being a long term visa holder in this country.This applies to anyone going through the higher education STEM OPT process. OP did not say (s)he was better than migrants from other places. OP did not ask for more green cards or anything like that. OP wasn't doing activism, wasn't asking for your votes, wasn't calling senators. But, like clockwork, immigrants from other nationalities started hating on OP and Indian immigrants in general. Thank you for showing us that you are not driven by your urge for fairness but by your hatred for Indians.
People exaggerate this shit ALL the time. I'm on H1B and it's not even remotely as hard as you make it out to be.
Lol.
You have described the pathway to H1B from a masters graduate. For majority of H1Bs, this is not the pathway. Indian body shops massively apply for H1Bs and send marginally skilled workers from India. This is the abuse that needs to be fixed. Unfortunately Americans who do not know about H1B process use a broad brush to paint all H1Bs are bad.
Whether H1B is good or bad or unfair is beside the point. This country welcomes immigrants because it needs them. Hence this country and its firms hire people on H1B. OP here just wanted to know why Americans seem to think Indians on H1B are seen as privileged and are asked to “go back to your country” a countless number of times. People from this country who cry foul about immigration are just bitter. And they give in to classic human nature “us vs. them” urges.
H1b lottery chance is less than 30%, courtesy to Indian WITCH companies. Also what you've described is a very far cry from the reality of how an H1b visa is obtained and what's required for it.
Agreed with the WITCH companies. They created the problem. But would like to know what you think of the actual process of H1B.
Half of your points have nothing to do with H1b, your post is misleading at best. Here's what it boils down to, for the Indian companies and their employees that represent the majority of H1b: 1. Get a BS (I leave the interpretation to you - whether this is "bullshit" or "bachelor's") degree from India 2. Apply in a WITCH company and pass an IQ test basically 3. Get picked in lottery 4. Fly over here and complain how long the backlog is English test? Masters? Job fairs? Please. And the TC? You think all the new Indian arrivals make $250k 🤣 They're hired for 65-80k and are sent to work at their clients offices. I think you've described what you've went though, not what an average H1b goes through