[qmachu]

Young, European, High-skilled worker here, who've been working on core Kubernetes products for three years. Got several job offers for key infra positions in various companies @ 200-250k+. Trump administration came in, decided to RFE+NOIR my H-1B with a bullshit reason, had to go back to my country, which is not my really home anymore whatsoever (wife/friends here). So yeah, that just happened. It's not only about abuses and 'Indians'.

[toocool]

Heart breaking story, really (from a heavy Kubernetes user btw).

Would you mind giving more details about what happened exactly? Why did you have to go back? What was the reason why they didn't renew your visa (I'm assuming it's a renewal problem since you mentioned 3 years)? And is there something that is being done by your company or yourself to get your US life back, or you just "gave up"?

I mean why the hell would a person with a 250k+ offer be kicked out, assuming you didn't commit any crime? Isn't the offer itself a proof that you're desperately wanted here and it should invalidate any RFE?

[qmachu]

Sure! It is not about renewal, it hit at a different time.

TD;LR (if I remember the details correctly among all the overall bs):

- Changed work location,

- Company notified immigration and joined a check to the amendment,

- Immigration returned the notice because they claimed they did not need such check,

- Company re-submitted the amendment right after, and proved by the way government indeed required a check at the time of submission but might have changed conditions,

- Immigration submitted both a RFE and a NOIR within two days intervals (pretty unfair already imho) claiming H1B petition was violated because government figured (tax filing and flight records) I moved and company failed to tell immigration in due time,

- Company argued that they did indeed notify immigration promptly but that they discarded the initial amendment due to the check,

- Immigration decided to ignore completely and revoke H-1B regardless.

Documented personal achievements and publicized projects should have been way enough to convince any legit immigration officer that my contribution to the country was strictly positive. My personal thoughts? They only care about sending these filthy foreigners back to where they come from (as opposed to 'home'), and they take any covert opportunities to do so.

Company did fill a new petition, but attorneys highly doubt that I am still counted towards the cap. We will have an answer in a few days. Otherwise, we would have to wait a year for the next lottery, at best.

Truly sad and rather stressful event for my wife and I anyways. And she is currently 'stuck' in her PhD (few years to go). Also, because it's been a few years I have not been to the country where I hold nationality, I am treated as a non-resident expat and several rights (such as health insurance, bringing my foreigner wife on a VISA, etc), at least for now. To regain access to these, I would need to stay here for a while, rent a place and find a job.

And finally, the cherry on the 'deportation' cake: company did not tell me about any of these (back and forth took a few months..) until I found out myself just two weeks before immigration took final decision of kicking me out. Might have been a blessing in disguise though.

[toocool]

Thanks for your detailed explanation. It’s so horrible. I wonder how long it will take for the US system to realize what a big mistake mistreating highly trained stem workers is.

Best of luck.

[rock8y]

Am in same boat as you. Its effecting individuals more than the companies they are aiming for.

[toocool]

Would love to hear more details about this too (same comment as the one I left in the parent message).