Tommy L Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I worked in the US with an H1B visa, and I came out with this: the visa has a 6 years limit, after which you need to leave (like what happened to me), if your employer tries to get you a greencard, it could take 5-7 years, after that you will need 7-8 years before you can apply for citizenship, (it took some people 15 years), and in total that makes at least 15 to 20 years to get a US passport. really depressing. Applying to Canadian immigration takes 5-6 years then you can apply for citizenship after living there for 3 years. that's 9 years total. with Canada you don't need a sponsor/employer. If you get married with a US or a Canadian citizen, you get residnecy in three months, and citizenship in 2-3 years. something not right here. Many people take advantage of the system and pay 10 to 15 thousand dollars for a fake wife to get into the country, while honest people like us are given the boot because we follow legal procedures. sucks. ... conclusion: I won't even try to apply to work in the US out of my own conviction that I can't wait 20 years to become a US citizen. I will be over 50 or dead then. Canada is another matter, I can wait 7-8 years. maybe I can get a few years of peace and quiet there before I die. Let it go man, youre always grumbling about US policy on these forums. Theyre offering a job, not a life transplant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihabkal Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Let it go man, youre always grumbling about US policy on these forums. Theyre offering a job, not a life transplant. I'm just explaining to my fellow Dubai resident that moving to the US with an H1B visa is not a step forward in my opinion, because it is a temporary state which will end. and then he will have to leave his house, his belongings, and go back. trying to save him from losing all his savings. and in case you havn't noticed, I am not grumbling, and even if I am, so is every 3d firm, and most other US businesses who rely on information technology professionals. read the US papers. the H1B numbers is so low it is hurting US businesses. I quit jobs years back and still they can't find a replacement for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvaraziz Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 oops.. my post become a big discussion.. Ihab- thanks man, i heard bout these H1B visa related stuffs a lot.... still its hard to find an employer ready to provide workpermit for oversease guys , mainly in archvis industry.. correct me if im wrong.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJLynn Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I know plenty of people who have gone from being on work visas to having green cards. It's a big pain in the ass but it's certainly possible. IIRC you got kicked out of the country and returned to Beirut shortly before massive bombing started there - and I think you have every right to criticise a system that puts you directly in danger of getting killed as much as you want to. Was there anything you would have done differently, in hindsight, relative to dealing with the US system? Any advice you can give now for people not wanting to get kicked out after 6 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihabkal Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I know plenty of people who have gone from being on work visas to having green cards. It's a big pain in the ass but it's certainly possible. IIRC you got kicked out of the country and returned to Beirut shortly before massive bombing started there - and I think you have every right to criticise a system that puts you directly in danger of getting killed as much as you want to. Was there anything you would have done differently, in hindsight, relative to dealing with the US system? Any advice you can give now for people not wanting to get kicked out after 6 years? yes, 1- do not freelance while employed. your employer will know and he will not get you a greencard in fear that you will become a competitor after you get it. 2- keep all channels of communication open with your employer, tell him everything. if you have a problem or doubts about things. if you keep negative things bottled inside they will grow out of proportion and you will quit your job while if ou tell him about your needs and problems he will help you solve them. 3- when you criticise the quality of work the firm you work for do it in a very tactical manner. don't do it in a harsh way others will think you are arrogant, even if you only want to benefit the company. 4- don't post past bad work experiences on CGarchitect.com, they show up in your name search on yahoo. and many many things you only learn by messing up. which I did a lot. but I am 31 now and I know better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihabkal Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 oops.. my post become a big discussion.. Ihab- thanks man, i heard bout these H1B visa related stuffs a lot.... still its hard to find an employer ready to provide workpermit for oversease guys , mainly in archvis industry.. correct me if im wrong.. it is harder these days than years ago when I first got it, because many 3d firms hired with H1B and had a bad experience with the situation, so they post on their job requirments these days that they do not want people from overseas. it is extremely hard to get someone from another country, to find out that they can't do the job, or that they have a hidden agenda, it is a lot of risk for any firm to take, even larger richer firms. they only way I see, IMHO, that a firm could get a foreigner an H1B these days is based on past work relationship. if they know you, they will take a chance on you, if they don't they will spend YEARS looking for a national even if it hurts their business and they have to outsource to China or India. even if they lose thousands. it might sound econimically insane for them to do that, but that is what I feel from my experience that they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy L Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Ihab, I didnt mean to offend and i dont dispute your views. I am on an H1b right now, so it is a subject thats close to the bone. I just meant that I think that maybe this is maybe a wasted avenue to air your opinions on US Immigration policy. If anyone wants advice, Im sure theyll ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihabkal Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Ihab, I didnt mean to offend and i dont dispute your views. I am on an H1b right now, so it is a subject thats close to the bone. I just meant that I think that maybe this is maybe a wasted avenue to air your opinions on US Immigration policy. If anyone wants advice, Im sure theyll ask. they did ask. I quoted them. see previous posts. thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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