[beedogs]

It's utterly fucked how restrictive and exploitative the US immigration system really is.

It cost me about $5000 of my own money and a year and a half of my own time to become a permanent resident of Australia, with no advanced degree and no cash reserve needed. That route is literally impossible for potential U.S. immigrants. You either have to marry your way in, play the greencard lottery, have a PhD, or buy your way in via an investor-class visa.

The alternative, if you can get one, is an H1-B visa that ties you to a single employer who's free to take full advantage of your situation for half a decade. And this is what Microsoft wants more of.

[akurilin]

5 years is unrealistic unless you have a graduate degree and do not come from India or China.

[seppo0010]

The H1-B is not tied to a single employer. But it only allows one month in case of lay off.

[ashayh]

There is no 'grace' period of 1 month, it is technically 0 days after job loss or H1B expiry. However, when you enter the US, the Immigration officer at the airport may choose to give you a few days in addition to your H1B expiry date. That said, it is unlikely they will prosecute a H1B holder, if he overstays for a month or so.

[malandrew]

IMHO the H1-B visa should have a scheme like allowing 3 months for every every year worked. Since many tech jobs are filled for 2-4 years, that would give people 6-12 months to find something new.

Out of curiosity, how much does it cost a company to takeover an existing visa?

[akurilin]

Aren't there restrictions on switching companies once your GC application has been filed?

[seppo0010]

> If a foreign worker in H-1B status quits or is dismissed from the sponsoring employer, the worker must either apply for and be granted a change of status to another non-immigrant status, find another employer (subject to application for adjustment of status and/or change of visa), or leave the US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-1B_visa