5 ms·
Microsoft employee here. My main concern is the fact that I'm the US on an H-1B visa. I really, really, really don't want to go back to my country, but that wil
by cesarbs 12y ago
Microsoft employee here. My main concern is the fact that I'm the US on an H-1B visa. I really, really, really don't want to go back to my country, but that will be the case if I'm laid off and unable to find another H-1B sponsor in a very short time. :(
- sg47 12y agoYou'll typically get severance for one or two months. As long as you are on the payroll, you can apply for a H1-B transfer. I went through this situation 7 years back. For a company of Microsoft's size, a severance of one or two months shouldn't be a problem.
- woi13 12y agoWrong. You have to be employed - meaning Active Employment - to be on H1b visa. Severence package is no excuse to stay in country. IANAL , but please don't say anything you don't know about law. If you overstayed yourself you broke the law.
- curiouslurker 12y agoI feel for you as a former H1-B holder. If you are past a certain stage you can work for yourself legally. Set up an LLC and get software contracting gigs. If you are in Seattle talk to Kevin Lederman, a leading immigration lawyer and he can advise you accordingly.
- cesarbs 12y agoUnfortunately, I don't even have PERM yet :\
- microarchitect 12y agoThis is the #1 reason why I won't stay in the US after my phd. I have no interest in being a random CEO whim away from either having to uproot my life and move back home or frantically try to land a new job all in the short period of 15 days. For those curious the #2 reason is that H1Bs make it hard to do even simple extracurricular activities like writing books or do consulting on the side related to an open source project you contribute to let alone start a company. The H1B is fundamentally broken and I'm amazed that so many people put up with it. Credit to the US for being such a desirable destination, I guess.
- makeset 12y agoThere are fast tracks to permanent residence after a PhD [1]. But if you don't want to immigrate (owe US taxes for foreign income, etc.) then you're right. Staying on H1B is no way to live. [1] http://www.uscis.gov/eir/visa-guide/entrepreneur-visa-guide#Immigrant http://www.uscis.gov/eir/visa-guide/entrepreneur-visa-guide#...
- seanmcdirmid 12y agoWell, what if you are in another country working for a company (say Microsoft) on a visa, even though you are American. > The H1B is fundamentally broken and I'm amazed that so many people put up with it. Credit to the US for being such a desirable destination, I guess. There are plenty of countries with more broken visa policies (I've lived here for almost 8 years and still don't qualify for permanent residency).
- cesarbs 12y agoWhere is "here"? :)
- seanmcdirmid 12y agoChina.
- kelnos 12y agoI know people who have lived in the US easily that long and are still stuck on H1B. Countries with worse policies are no excuse for the embarrassment that is the state of US immigration.
- seanmcdirmid 12y agoYou can only be on a H1B for 6 years (3 years renewed twice). After that, its either greencard or go home for a few years, and everyone I know has been able to get greencards even if the "process" is kind of tough. However, I cannot get a greencard in the country of my residence (where I have many coworkers with USA greencards, ironically enough), so I think it is not very fair.
- ambrood 12y agoHang in there bro. I got laid off on H1-B last year. While technically you become "out of status" on the day you get laid off (severance and payroll doesnt matter), you can stick around for a reasonable amount of time to find a new job. The strictest interpretation for that time is 10 days but I know folks who took 2 months. Good luck!
- eru 12y agoThere are other countries around, too.