I'm sick and tired of current US immigration climate. Recent Fox Business interview of the head of DHS and USCIS, in which he agrees with labelling all immigrants as cheap labor, is just appalling. I agree, abuse by some players is present, it is bad and must stop. However, there are thousands of researchers, scientists, high-skilled engineers and entrepreneurs, many of whom are US-educated (and PhDs are mostly payed by US taxpayer, btw), who are not cheap at all, and US has to compete for them with the entire world. Unemployment in this category is pretty much non-existent even in current circumstances. I've just graduated with my PhD from one of the top US universities, and I've started my R&D job with $200k/year base salary + another $200k/year in bonuses and stocks. Is it cheap, lol? And the company was actually struggling to find qualified enough candidates. I'm on F1 OPT, and current policies are worrisome. My company has applied for an H1B for me. Even before that I applied for self-sponsored GC myself. I did everything in my power regarding my immigration. All of these categories are being attacked at this point, with the appearing possibility of kicking out even those who are in the country. It is very disheartening to see top officials supporting this. I am wondering at this point, why I wanted to come here and contribute in the first place. I spent 8+ years at this point in the US (I worked before my PhD for a couple of years), and even though I'd prefer not to abandon what I built here, I started seriously contemplating leaving the US. I'm not alone, American prestige is really hurt in the last 4 years. American competitiveness is built on the ability to attract the best and brightest all across the world. If these attacks on legal high-skilled immigrants continues, you can kiss goodbye to that. I guess, many countries will be glad actually. UPDATE: Originally I came to the US for science and I didn't care about money at all. Lol, my TC in the US up until recently fluctuated between $30 and $50k. People change though, so that closer to the end of my PhD I decided to monetize on my skill set, rather than continuing being a slave in academia. What's the problem with that? I have been a long standing believer in the US. Before I came, I was always looking up to America, and I really thought it was the land of freedom and opportunity. When I was growing up, whenever I saw some bullshit happening in my home country, I tought things are better in the US. I really thought America is a major push for humanity forward. In my undergrad I did a couple of summer internships in the US, I really liked this "get things done" hard-working attitude and not so much bureaucracy. I was young and naive. I didn't come to Trump's America though. So recent changes are really shocking to me and I do feel my notion of America is somewhat betrayed, but it's probably my own problem. And here, I'm not actually talking about immigration, Trump is undoing decades of delicate balance of relationships with the rest of the world, even attacking US allies. America has become a laughingstock in less than 4 years! Still, I am deeply concerned about the state of this country, since I believed in it for so long and I've invested so much effort already, it's not living up to its previous image, and, tbh, with current administration actively exacerbating covid crisis, one can even wonder whether there will be America in a few years. That's really sad, my heart is really bleeding. I don't know, maybe I was indoctrinated by American propaganda in my teenage years, lol? #workvisa #h1b #f1opt #greencard #highskilled #useducated
Quite BSing, you know better than anybody that you worth something here, and most likely 0 back in home country due to competitiveness in your field, or bureaucracy, or whatever the case is. This country is one of the only where you could make something for yourself and your family. Plane tickets are quite cheap nowadays.
What makes you say that? I'm from Europe, and I've actually received comparable offers back home. Still, I consider for now opportunity to be better here, but that might change.
No you didnât. Europe doesnât pay that much. You think we are stupid?
8+ yr on phd. What a waste. Sorry.
Can you read? I worked before my PhD in the US.
Okay 6+ yrs on phd. What a waste. And only 200k tc after all that?
US has some of the best higher education in the world and they let go of the young grads that they educate so they can work in other countries. US should do extra to keep that talent! Not the other way around!
Education quality is above average. But the best take away for people would be the American culture of freedom to think, dissent and innovate. Talent exists every where, but it's this free culture that lacks and stops innovation. People who get used to American culture are gonna replicate this back home. I agree on your point as a whole.
I donât think OP would want to replicate any culture if he went to Switzerland. Switzerland scores better than US in every metric of quality of life and work and worker protections . Why he/she wants to still be here is beyond me . Also tell me about your American culture of freedom next time you have to pay for a health emergency and suddenly laid off from a job . Or a forced ride in an ambulance .
Your PhD is worthless in most other places. It's just another piece of paper. Get off your high horse. This is still the best country in the world (also a European immigrant).
Not sure I'm following. Switzerland is pretty sweet, tbh. And some jobs I've considered there do require PhD.
Sorry, just wondering why does every European never mention their country and keep calling themselves European. Are you guys ashamed of your country or, trying to get more gains by identifying yourself with a larger group. This is not a question to hurt but just to understand popular opinion.
Please leave. No one will cry and no one is asking you to stay either.
Yeah, but when people like op start leaving it will be too late to cry. I already see some students preferring Germany and Canada for masters after engineering in their home country because of the visa issues in the US.
By all means, let them. Anyone is free to go anywhere to learn and build a life. The same way US as a country has every right to make law that suits them. Why complain - free will baby. Go to Germany and Canada. Go on.
You didnât come to contribute. You came to make your life and money. Thatâs the first thing. Second, stop showing that you got a 200k job and expect some sympathy. Not gonna happen. Itâs also the reason the trump supporters wonât like you. Theyâre making peanut and you get 200k? Fk that, get out, thatâs what they are thinking. Not that, oh dear savior with precious brain who came to rescue us when we have no brains. Understand what the voters want, they want you out.
Haha that's how the politics play sadly. I wonder what SWE Americans think of this visa politics, however. Do they support it? Do they support it in order to gain for themselves at the cost of the country? Or, do they believe visas do not benefit the country that much?
Actually, my original motivation was that I really wanted to be part of the system that pushes humanity forward. I was young. Nothing else really mattered to me back then, I had some rosy notion of academia and national labs. That, of course, changed during my PhD, lol.
Are you assuming that the OP is a brown man or know that for a fact? Would not that make YOU a bigot now?
Yeah you right, MSFT and logic can't be used in the same sentence.
I haven't posted my TC, just base salary.
And, btw, $300k tc undergrads are exceptional and very few.
Lol, I'm new to Blind. Everybody is obsessed with TC. Originally posted my base salary only, and that was somehow triggering.
USA is losing to china in every sector except education and tech, theyâll soon start losing on those as well!
Actually, some of my fellow graduates with ML PhD's were offered significantly higher salaries in China than what even Silicon Valley could pay them.
If you donât like it here, please leave.