If you want to come to USA on H1B, be ready

jabber(jabber)

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Since I lost my assignmen this Monday, I have not yet got a single interview. Why?

I am affiliated with a small consulting company. I don't have a green card yet (it is in progress. I don't know how long I need wait.) Before I get a green card, I cannot leave my present employer. If I leave it, my green card case will be dismissed. In such a case, my job hunting is very very difficult.

Here is the procedure. My boss first "sells" me to some big agents, and the latter forward me to the clients. Between me and the client, there are two layers. You can imagine how big the overhard it is. For instance, one agent contacted a client and told my boss: " We cannot do business with this client, because they can pay $70 per hour." Indeed, $70 is not enough for so many people to share.

Right now, there are very few high-pay contract jobs in Was. DC area. If
I have a greed card, I can relatively easily take a "permanent" job, I mean, be an employee. However, I am not elligible for this.

My situation is not the worst. Though I have no assignment, my immigration status is no problem---my boss holds my H1B and I am still legally employeed. Some other Chinese people here are not as lucky as I am. Their lay-off means their green card cases are dead, even they were nearing to obtain the card. In addition, they need to get a new job with one month. Otherwise, .........

Right now, If one is technically good, there are still some opportunities for him to get a permanent job. Contractors are having a hard time--- too few opportunities and lower pay rate.

Some friends are eager to come to USA. I advise them to think it through before taking actions. USA is a high risky society. For an H1-B worker, there is no security. Although there are a lot of opportunities, H1-B workers are not qualified to compete. If you really want to realize your American dream, you had better come after you become a Canadian citizen. It is desirable to have a back-up in the life.

For me, things are not so bad. I can still sleep well. My immigration status is secure. I don't have a mortgage to worry about. Albeit fewer opportunities, I have strong confidence in my competence. Hope to bring good news not too late.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

(#33609@0)
Last Updated: 2001-3-15

hi jabber, you are a real man -guest:guest; 2001-3-16 {714} (#33661@0)

i have read over in this site for a while and i aslo know you are from the same city in china as i
was. although i am not an IT guy, but my industry is as competitive but slowingdown as yours.

i strongly feel you possess all sorts natures---skillful, resourceful, knowlegable, helpful, kind,
diligent,...i really believe you are bound to get a better position soon.

i am in motor city, involved auto parts/subassenblies manufacturing and delivery. my duty is to
do computer FEA (you xian yuan) simulation prior to any mass production. duty is heavy, but this
does not guarantee the stabability of employment---we are having a rotating layoff.

take care, and look forward to hearing your good news.

多好的同志啊, Jabber, 我要是女的一定嫁给你, 二奶也成. -wonton_soup(Wonton Soup); 2001-3-16 (#33691@0)

in that case, Jabber will be put in jail because new chinese law stipulated it's illega and will be punished!!! -rlz7213(Rachel); 2001-3-16 (#33703@0)
搞清楚先，她好象是女的 -uid(miracle); 2001-3-16 (#33970@0)
You are scaring me. I don't think you would like to be a concubine(二奶), but I do belive you want to have a concubine(二奶). -):-): -jabber(jabber); 2001-3-16 (#33976@0)

Dear jabber, hope you bring good news to us soon and hope you get green card early. -canada(canada); 2001-3-16 (#33889@0)

Hi, do you know how long is it to apply for a H1B now? One company began the session in January, and told me it was still in process. Is it ok? -howru(How are you?); 2001-3-16 (#33901@0)

有机会还是先端一段时间铁饭碗为好，等基础打好了，再自己做consulant。 -hearts(hearts); 2001-3-16 (#33948@0)

My understanding is I have not yet laid out a solid foundation for my programmer career. -): -): -jabber(jabber); 2001-3-16 {2789} (#33974@0)
本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛IT industry has its own rule. Right now, companies prefer to hire employees because they want to save expenses.

Being a consultant does not mean technically strong. Actually, consultant means contractor. There are a lot of contractors in the USA.
I even met some Indian contractor who first came to Canada and then were sold to USA.

Contractors generally have more salaries because they don't have any benifits such as stock options. In my case, I am the employee of my boss
(he runs his consulting company), but I do contractor's job--- going to the client's site. My boss buys health insurance and a simple retirement plan for me, so I am an employee. On the other hand, I am paid hourly. For instance, if I have 2 hour's overtime today, I get 10 hour's pay.

Please don't understand that consultants are technical experts. Actually,
some of my contractor colleagues are technically poor, just like the Java
experts from 3 month's traing.

Also, please do not think a permanent job is permanent. Actually, a permanent job means an employee. When a company has difficlties, it can kick off both contractors and employees. The difference is that the company needs give some severance pay to the employee, while the employee can be simply told "Today is your last day. Don't come tomorrow".

Some friends like to link layoff to people's working ability. This is absolutely wrong. If you made some mistakes in your job, or if you cannot undertake your task, the company may let you go---- This is termed "firing". Firing is completely different from lay-off.

I remember some friends have NAIVELY though that lay-off will get rid of those Java guys from the computer training center. This is wrong again.
As a company decided to lay off people, they usually dismiss a team, or a project, or a branch. If you happen to be in this team, in this project, or in this branch, you cannot escape no matter who you are.

Hope my explanation can help some friends to have a basic understanding of the rule of game in the computer industry.

By the way, let me introduce my last project: It is a B2B exchange project. We have burnt about 4 million dollar on it. Recently, the investor suddenky became aware that they cannot make money from this project, so they decided to stop here. Here is a math: Provided there are 1000 transactions using this B2B exchange project each day and that 10 dollar is charged for each transaction, the revenue will be $10,000 each.
This money is not enough for running the web site! However, nobody envisioned this possibility before the project was initiated.

Most dot-com companies have similar problem. I guess 90% of dot-coms will be closed of acquired by some other big fish.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

其实我的原意是说，先在大公司里打基础，不仅是技术方面，论技术我们这些人一般都不成问题。关键是学他们的其他东西，包括建立关系网，通过干大项目给自己脸上贴金等等。当然也包括建立生活方面的信用。一旦时机成熟，就可以自己出去干点事了。 -hearts(hearts); 2001-3-17 (#34124@0)

Your points are good ... -jabber(jabber); 2001-3-18 {1896} (#34253@0)
本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Actually, I have never misunderstood your points. You are one of the best speakers in this forum. In particular, I appreciate your healthy attitude to the life.

Strategically, you are 100% right. Working for a big company such as IBM and Oracle for some years can help people's career. If you tell people you are from IBM, people usually believe you are an expert in some field.

I myself may have missed such opportunities because of my immigration status. The Chinese people in USA put a green card to the ulmost position, and I would have no problem in getting a new job if I agree to leave my present employeer. I choose to "be loyal to" my present employee because this is the best choise to my interest. I may be on bench for some time, but it is desirable to wait for a green card with some ecomical losses.

Say again, I publicize these things simply because I think they may be helpful to those friends who want to come to USA before getting a Canadian citizenship. Without a green card, one's development space is very limited in the USA. In addition, once something like lay-off happens, one may be cornered to the dead end. I have ever seen some friends discussing the possibility of working in USA while keeping Canadian permanent residency. It is not so easy. Some friends have not yet come to Canada, but they are already planning to move to USA as soon as they land in Canada. I just want to tell them the complexity of American rules.

My present situation is nothing. I am not laid off. I am still my boss's employee. He is still paying my salary. (Of course, he cannot pay me 3 month's salary while I don't work). He is working very hard to secure a new assignment. For those friends who are not familiar with the consulting, I can say" Jabber is on bench. "On bench" means that one is waiting for a new assignment.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

Your are really helpful to most ppl here, including those non-IT guys like me. -hearts(hearts); 2001-3-18 {118} (#34286@0)
Thanks for providing lots of useful information and ideas for ppl here and also for your comments on my products here.
获得h1-b申请返加纸可以保留加国永久居民 -guest:guest; 2001-3-26 (#37309@0)

NO! -hearts(hearts); 2001-3-27 (#37563@0)
如何申请H1B？请指教！ -nlmzh(问号); 2001-4-27 {18} (#55841@0)
从加拿大如何申请？
H1－B是申请不到返加纸的 -numnum(numnum); 2001-4-27 (#55845@0)

@Houston

If you want to come to USA on H1B, be ready

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