I am on h1b visa. Given the instability in the job market, visa restrictions, and the interview bar getting higher each day, I don't feel stable. I feel like if I lose my job, I won't be able to find a new one. I will have to move back to India sooner or later (moving back is fine but living in fear and insecurity is not). Because of this, I have inhibitions signing long term lease, buying furniture, or a lot of household items. I don't invest in the country and send my savings back home. I don't buy too many credit cards or open bank accounts. Settling down with a partner or having kids is difficult. In short, I keep everything to minimal so it's easier to move back whenever I have to. Anyone else who faces this insecurity? Or are you guys sure about being here forever?
It’s an open relationship. You can be replaced any time.
You can look the glass half full or half empty I am confident that even if I loose my job I will find one straight away. This is due to my skills that I keep updated and network. At any time I know more than one person who is ready to hire me. On the other hand, I do avoid early stage startup companies as they are risky and i feel I miss out on the experience and money. For the stuff like furniture/car, I believe in living a comfortable lifestyle, what’s the point working hard. Worst case if I move I loose a 3-4 thousand $ when I sell off.
I think OP is more concerned about the VISA issues rather than finding a job. I have 2 offer letters in hand(Not worked at any consultancy in my life and those two are tier 1 companies) and I always stay prepared for the interviews but I am stuck in the transfer process. This whole process is a black hole. You don't know what's gonna happen. One of my best friend who I think is also smart at what he does got an offer letter from a Tier 1 company and still his transfer was not approved and had to go back to India. So, yes I agree that finding a job is hard but with a lil hard work one can get that but VISA issue is something which will always keep uncertainty in peoples life who are on visa. So, in short yes our lives and everything depends on this stupid visa process which is a black hole and one can just hope that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
What instability you are talking about ? Lowest unemployed rate in history.
Agreed. But lot of h1 denials now a days
Doesn't get any better off visa because there's less leverage against you.
My advice is to have a decent living environment everywhere. You live for this moment. I had exactly similar experience. No furniture, no life quality items. Buy them, and it’s not so hard to resell or give away. They are not expensive
You should move to a company that is more stable and will not fire you randomly or will have the options to transfer you to a different place. You opening bank accounts and credit card won't matter. What matters is your 401k contribution and Buying a house. Everything else like buying a furniture and car can be done
Uber was stable, wasn't it?
Lol, I meant Google, Microsoft, 🍎, Facebook and other more established companies that don't have a record of firing when growth falls
Have a fixed term plan while in the US: I will stay for n number of years.In those n years I will maximize comp + career growth (n should be ideally around 6 -10 years) Using the money saved and career experience Move back to India to accelerate your career growth.I can’t see any other way.Staying too long will ruin your life (definitely your kids life). Not switching companies will affect your career.So this is the best compromise.
Move back to India and accelerate growth how? It's tough to go back to the same company as work hours and culture sucks. The startup scene in India is not as good as US. Pls elaborate.
Not true, startup scene in India is good. Work culture might suck
You cannot always live on a scenario of 'what if' s. It is what it is. We will get GC when the date gets current etc. For those number of years, you're not living here fully, if you're constantly in fear. There is nothing to lose by buying a house car etc. You need to live while you're actually here, and not in India where you send money to. To each their own. I have moved from being constantly in fear, and taking it as well as I can, at that moment.
On the contrary there's a shitton to lose in buying a house on an H1b Apart from that solid advice
You can sell it and move on. You may have some loss, but like everything else, we cannot predict it either. Renting for 12 years vs living in your own place for even 5 of those is worth it, IMO.
Move to Canada
Very few companies to work for :(
You are in right direction