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My undergrad college final year students were one of the last ones where many of us inclined towards coming to US for grad school. This was back in 2013, when I

My undergrad college final year students were one of the last ones where many of us inclined towards coming to US for grad school. This was back in 2013, when INR was also doing very poorly and I remember, my semester fees was as volatile as crypto. Nowadays, I always tell my junior folks to calibrate all the pros and cons on being in H1b visa very seriously. The level of uncertainty can drive you nuts. Its not just 60 days grace period, but also future visa extensions post 6 yr mark is insane. I know senior folks in my previous companies getting RFE (Request for Evidence) on pretty much every extension. Its a gut wrenching experience, especially if you have kids and house. If folks who care to know more, John Oliver has made an entire episode on this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXqnRMU1fTs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXqnRMU1fTs

tomp 6y ago
I’m not from India but from an almost-first world EU country, and I’ve been working in London for a while. My advice for someone else in my position (starting out) would definitely be to try to go to the US. Salaries are just so much better, it’s incomparable. You could save in the US in a year as much as you would make (post tax) in Europe in 5 years. Even in London and Switzerland, pribably the best-paid countries in Europe, you’re probably at least 2x worse off. (This is of course for top talent working in tech/finance/both.)
- thewarrior 6y ago
  As someone who chose to stay in London for me the increased certainty is worth the hit to my salary. Salary matters but it isn’t everything. Obviously it’s not the same for Europeans who can get a green card in a few years. But a lot of people are waking up to this and offices in places like London and Canada are expanding. I personally know people who make very good money in both places. In fact anecdotally there’s increasing presence of big tech in London as a backup for H1B rejects by all majors. In the long term this will contribute to the decentralization of tech companies outside the US. These policies are short sighted and foolish.
- triceratops 6y ago
  Combining your advice and that of GP, it sounds like the optimal course of action is "Work in the US for 6 years, save as much as you would in 30 years in Europe, then move somewhere else"
  - humanlion87 6y ago
    That is a pretty optimal plan and that is what quite a few colleagues I know are doing. Not moving to Europe, but planning to move to Canada. Save up some money in the US, move North and settle down.

tomp 6y ago

I’m not from India but from an almost-first world EU country, and I’ve been working in London for a while. My advice for someone else in my position (starting out) would definitely be to try to go to the US. Salaries are just so much better, it’s incomparable. You could save in the US in a year as much as you would make (post tax) in Europe in 5 years. Even in London and Switzerland, pribably the best-paid countries in Europe, you’re probably at least 2x worse off. (This is of course for top talent working in tech/finance/both.)

thewarrior 6y ago
As someone who chose to stay in London for me the increased certainty is worth the hit to my salary. Salary matters but it isn’t everything. Obviously it’s not the same for Europeans who can get a green card in a few years. But a lot of people are waking up to this and offices in places like London and Canada are expanding. I personally know people who make very good money in both places. In fact anecdotally there’s increasing presence of big tech in London as a backup for H1B rejects by all majors. In the long term this will contribute to the decentralization of tech companies outside the US. These policies are short sighted and foolish.
triceratops 6y ago
Combining your advice and that of GP, it sounds like the optimal course of action is "Work in the US for 6 years, save as much as you would in 30 years in Europe, then move somewhere else"
- humanlion87 6y ago
  That is a pretty optimal plan and that is what quite a few colleagues I know are doing. Not moving to Europe, but planning to move to Canada. Save up some money in the US, move North and settle down.