Google India vs MS internal transfer to US

Aug 1, 2021 54 Comments

L64 SWE at MS. I had got a Redmond move offer in Jan, and had already been working for the Redmond team since while the visa process was going. Have got the L1B visa now, but waiting for the travel ban to end in order to move to US. Meanwhile, I just converted L5 Google Hyderabad. Could really use the Blind community's help to make the decision.

Pros of MS US move: 1) USD, 2) American way of life
Cons:Will need to wait for H1B (which being a lottery has no predictability of timeline) in order to be able to switch companies. Already feel that I've worked too long at a single company

Pros of Google Hyderabad:1) Google has been my dream company, 2) Not having to prep for Google interviews again, 3) Big salary bump in INR
Cons: Will need to wait for a couple of years atleast to be able to make the US move

TC at MS India: Base 46, Stocks USD 50K last year

TC offered at Google: Base 56L, Stocks USD 200K (4 yr vesting: 33%,33%, 22%, 12%), Joining bonus 12L. First year TC: 1.24Cr

YoE: 8+ years. All at MS India

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TOP 54 Comments
  • Google
    anakin_

    Go to company page Google

    anakin_
    Couple of points:

    1. L5 is very respected in Google (similar to how Principal engineers are treated in Microsoft)
    2. Transfers in Google are very easy, no interviews. Even easier at L5. Look at the number of L5 open positions on our careers site
    3. No requirement for "minimum x years in India"
    4. If not US, you can move to Zurich (which I honestly loved more than the US) and you have similar pay with lower taxes
    5. Not a single friend of mine in Microsoft Redmond is content -- they're on a lowball salary with lowball refreshers and can't move until they convert to H1B. Google's refreshers are way better (L4 refreshers at G > L66 refresher at Msft)
    6. Way better tech, way better culture, way more open

    If you have no problems with pushing back your US move for a year, you'll top out every possible way at Google.
    Aug 18, 2021 8
  • Amazon
    xxpQ23

    Go to company page Amazon

    xxpQ23
    Dude Google India has hired far too many people. Are you a new grad kid who thinks within 2 years opportunities will open and people Google US are dying to hire you ? You have been in this Industry long enough to know how hard internal transfers are.

    Do yourself a favor and take that Microsoft transfer.
    Aug 1, 2021 5
    • Google / Eng
      WfhIntervi

      Go to company page Google Eng

      WfhIntervi
      Amazon, why are you getting hyper.

      At Google, any transfers are easy. All you have to have is a manager willing to offer you a job in his team. I don't know about the immigration team and you can certainly talk to the recruiter about it, but from team change point of view, you just have to find a manager.
      Aug 2, 2021
    • Agree with you amazon
      Aug 2, 2021
  • New
    paxyoshida

    New

    paxyoshida
    Dude, the number of opportunities you have in the US is far more than you can imagine in India once you have an H1. If you have managed to reach L64 in MS and crack Google interview, you will do great in the US. Forget about tomorrow; think about three years from now. You'll quickly reach TC above 400K in the US within few years.

    In India, Google India is the end of the road for you. Whereas in the US, Microsoft Redmond is just the beginning.

    A lot of people get it wrong when they compare the current Indian offer with the current US offer with adjustments on the cost of living and conclude that moving to the US is not worthwhile apart from a few lakhs more in savings. They fail to count the enormous growth opportunities that the US provides, both in terms of TC and openings, which do not exist in India.

    Sincerely,
    A guy who gave up his US transfer four years ago, after he was made to believe that joining a US startup in India will make him a millionaire.
    Aug 6, 2021 5
  • Are you married or with kids? The costs in US could be v diff and may tilt it in India's favour if you're looking to get domestic help
    Aug 2, 2021 4
    • I'm 32 (also did masters). I have a close-knit circle of very nice friends, hobbies, no pressure from family to get married soon, and a stable gir friend who is 6 years younger to me so she herself wants to wait a couple of years more
      Aug 7, 2021
    • Uber
      spide

      Go to company page Uber

      spide
      That sounds nice. All the best for everything man ✌
      Aug 7, 2021
  • This is a good problem to have. Congrats. Just see what you will get at the 2 places/companies and see which ones align with your objectives
    BTW, a lot of people consider the American way of life to be a con :P. USD is the only thing that qualifies as a pro with respect to the transfer
    Aug 1, 2021 1
    • Haha, yup the American way of life could be a con for some and pro for others. I'm just looking for new experiences in life and the American way, good or bad, would provide a new experience
      Aug 3, 2021