4 ms·

Ask HN: Google not providing US work visa?

I was just dropped from Google recruitment process because "Google would be unable to secure a work visa for US-based roles". Is this a general rule? Or was the role I applied for just not worth the hassle for them?

paxys 4y ago
The US immigration process is complicated and it's impossible to answer this question without knowing about your specific situation. Where are you located? What visa category do you fall under? Have you studied or worked in the country before? Can you get a temporary work permit (like OPT)? In general Google does sponsor visas, and that has not changed.
- throwawayGooG_ 4y ago
  I'm from Morocco. I have European diplomas and I have never been to the US.
amalgamated_inc 4y ago
Was this an H-1B visa? There are about 110,000 H-1B slots every year, and over 400,000 applications. Therefore USCIS is conducting a lottery for who gets those slots. This means that a company essentially has to put in 4 applications to get 1 through, which can be cost prohibitive. Now I'd imagine that if anyone could afford it, it'd be Google. But now with the recession and general layoffs happening.. you might just have bad luck with the timing :(
- throwawayGooG_ 4y ago
  I don't know what particular kind of VISA it would have been, I'm not familiar enough with US processes. But flat out cutting the interview process without any consideration seemed a bit odd for me.
  - amalgamated_inc 4y ago
    Unfortunately, due to messed up US visa policy right now, it's been like this since about 2014 and it's getting worse every year.
  - digianarchist 4y ago
    Where are you a citizen of? Citizens from Singapore, Chile, Australia, Canada and Mexico have alternatives but others are lumped in together for H1B assuming they don't qualify for others (L1, O1, etc).
    - throwawayGooG_ 4y ago
      I'm from Morocco, even though I have been a permanent EU resident for many years now. But I guess that doesn't change anything in terms of US VISA.
      - amalgamated_inc 4y ago
        AFAIK your residency country doesn't matter, only your birth country. But yea sounds, like you're not in one of the "special" countries mentioned above, so you'd be in the H-1B category most likely and therefore subject to the lottery.
        digianarchist 4y ago
        For US non-immigrant visas it's citizenship that matters.
      - digianarchist 4y ago
        It wouldn't make a difference even if you were a citizen of an EU country. My advice is to try and get a position at the EU office of a company that has a presence in the US. You can transfer on an L1 visa after 12 months. The good news is that once you get to the US then there will be no delay in any application for permanent residency based on your country of birth. You're also eligible for the DV Lottery.

paxys 4y ago

The US immigration process is complicated and it's impossible to answer this question without knowing about your specific situation. Where are you located? What visa category do you fall under? Have you studied or worked in the country before? Can you get a temporary work permit (like OPT)? In general Google does sponsor visas, and that has not changed.

throwawayGooG_ 4y ago
I'm from Morocco. I have European diplomas and I have never been to the US.

amalgamated_inc 4y ago

Was this an H-1B visa? There are about 110,000 H-1B slots every year, and over 400,000 applications. Therefore USCIS is conducting a lottery for who gets those slots. This means that a company essentially has to put in 4 applications to get 1 through, which can be cost prohibitive. Now I'd imagine that if anyone could afford it, it'd be Google. But now with the recession and general layoffs happening.. you might just have bad luck with the timing :(

throwawayGooG_ 4y ago
I don't know what particular kind of VISA it would have been, I'm not familiar enough with US processes. But flat out cutting the interview process without any consideration seemed a bit odd for me.
- amalgamated_inc 4y ago
  Unfortunately, due to messed up US visa policy right now, it's been like this since about 2014 and it's getting worse every year.
- digianarchist 4y ago
  Where are you a citizen of? Citizens from Singapore, Chile, Australia, Canada and Mexico have alternatives but others are lumped in together for H1B assuming they don't qualify for others (L1, O1, etc).
  - throwawayGooG_ 4y ago
    I'm from Morocco, even though I have been a permanent EU resident for many years now. But I guess that doesn't change anything in terms of US VISA.
    - amalgamated_inc 4y ago
      AFAIK your residency country doesn't matter, only your birth country. But yea sounds, like you're not in one of the "special" countries mentioned above, so you'd be in the H-1B category most likely and therefore subject to the lottery.
      - digianarchist 4y ago
        For US non-immigrant visas it's citizenship that matters.
    - digianarchist 4y ago
      It wouldn't make a difference even if you were a citizen of an EU country. My advice is to try and get a position at the EU office of a company that has a presence in the US. You can transfer on an L1 visa after 12 months. The good news is that once you get to the US then there will be no delay in any application for permanent residency based on your country of birth. You're also eligible for the DV Lottery.