4 ms·

You're basically SOL. Work visas nearly always only go to well established companies or body shops (who've learnt how to game the system). Plus, in this recessi

by ahk 17y ago

You're basically SOL. Work visas nearly always only go to well established companies or body shops (who've learnt how to game the system). Plus, in this recession, it would be hard to prove there is a lack of Americans willing or able to do your job. Even the startup visa being debated now, is only meant for "founders" and not for folks who just want to work in a startup. If you really want to stay in the US without worrying about being kicked out of the country the moment you lose a job, you need to do the time to get a GC (either do a PhD and get the GC faster or get in the queue with the normal folks and wait 10-15 years)

alain94040 17y ago
I'm not sure your advice is correct. First of all, small companies have no more problem applying for H-1B than larger companies. Especially in the last 2 years, where the quotas were not met on day 1 of the application process. Second, graduate students with a MS have their own special category (not subject to the H-1B cap). And they can use the OPT training program to get a job without having to go through a visa. Bottom line: check out usvisanews.com, not hackernews, to discuss this.
- ahk 17y ago
  Personally, I have not heard of any startup willing to spend the time or money to sponsor a H1B. Many startup jobs are advertised with a clear restriction that they are looking only for citizens/GC holders.
  - siong1987 17y ago
    A lot of YC companies do help international workers to get their H1Bs. I don't know what is the exact number. OP: Anyway, if you are canadian, it will be easier. There is a special category for canadian who wants to work in US. H1B is tricky. And, it has a quota. Try those startups who have secured theirs series A, it will be easier to get in.
- jayliew 17y ago
  Alain, I'm actually very sure that small companies do have more trouble. For one, they have to prove that they (have revenue/are profitable) for X months. If you're a budding Twitter or Facebook in the early days, your revenue is $0 and your profits are also $0 - and that's a red flag to the immigration. And there's other criterias that similar to this where it's easy if you're a big company, but virtually impossible if you're a startup.
techsupporter 17y ago
"Plus, in this recession, it would be hard to prove there is a lack of Americans willing or able to do your job." This isn't nearly the problem you suspect it to be. Just in my field (see my login name), there are many H1B holders occupying jobs that have been certified--by the employer, to the US government--as "unfillable" with a US citizen.

by ahk 17y ago

alain94040 17y ago

I'm not sure your advice is correct. First of all, small companies have no more problem applying for H-1B than larger companies. Especially in the last 2 years, where the quotas were not met on day 1 of the application process. Second, graduate students with a MS have their own special category (not subject to the H-1B cap). And they can use the OPT training program to get a job without having to go through a visa. Bottom line: check out usvisanews.com, not hackernews, to discuss this.

ahk 17y ago
Personally, I have not heard of any startup willing to spend the time or money to sponsor a H1B. Many startup jobs are advertised with a clear restriction that they are looking only for citizens/GC holders.
- siong1987 17y ago
  A lot of YC companies do help international workers to get their H1Bs. I don't know what is the exact number. OP: Anyway, if you are canadian, it will be easier. There is a special category for canadian who wants to work in US. H1B is tricky. And, it has a quota. Try those startups who have secured theirs series A, it will be easier to get in.
jayliew 17y ago
Alain, I'm actually very sure that small companies do have more trouble. For one, they have to prove that they (have revenue/are profitable) for X months. If you're a budding Twitter or Facebook in the early days, your revenue is $0 and your profits are also $0 - and that's a red flag to the immigration. And there's other criterias that similar to this where it's easy if you're a big company, but virtually impossible if you're a startup.

techsupporter 17y ago

"Plus, in this recession, it would be hard to prove there is a lack of Americans willing or able to do your job." This isn't nearly the problem you suspect it to be. Just in my field (see my login name), there are many H1B holders occupying jobs that have been certified--by the employer, to the US government--as "unfillable" with a US citizen.