I don't know the situation in India, but there are a whole lot of horror stories of startups (and non-startup companies) in the US exploiting employees. Just be

I don't know the situation in India, but there are a whole lot of horror stories of startups (and non-startup companies) in the US exploiting employees. Just because you earn more freelancing for US companies doesn't necessary mean coming working for startups in the US will give you higher living standard, Silicon Valley - and California on average - is ridiculously expensive to live in. Again, do your research, I'm not in a position to know your situation. That actually ties to the part of "H1B is evil". I'd rather not bring up that discussion, just search on HN (in both stories and comments) for "indentured servants" and/ or "H1B" to see all the comments from both sides in the past. Anyway, the general advice for young-ish (I assume you are) programmer wanting to work for startup is to find not early stage startups, but mid-size one (think of current Uber/ Lyft/ Wanelo, or Facebook 2006-2007 etc.). As you will learn more, have an easier life (not that the work is not as challenging as early stage startup, but early stage startup is quite ... insane in some aspects), and further more, you can already filter out the crappy companies. Remember, most startups die in the first two years or so, and if us programmers can pick who doesn't... well, I think I have a better job for you :-)