H1 & Career Growth: (Im)Possible?

bshobhit · Post by **bshobhit** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 12:56 am

Hi All,
I am not sure if this is a right forum for this topic, but might be related as this is one of top reason for R2I for many of us.

I have about 10 yrs exp in IT with some of the industry leaders (both in IT services & also Auto/Pharma/Retail), and an MBA from a reasonably reputed institute in India. I have had a reasonably good time while I was in India & in US with Indian services companies, in terms of growth & experience. I am working as a BA/PM in a mid size biotech company.

I have been in US for about 5 years, not looking to get GC (though my current employer has agreed to do it!!). I feel that being on H1 is a huge roadblock to professional growth. (I know both pro & anti-immigration group would pound me to death if I said this :emwink: ; Pro group because like me, they believe H1s do not face any challenges & anti group because they already believe we have taken up the best job by being "cheap labors".

I recently started looking for a change, due to certain changes in my current organization (was sold off to a pvt equity, leading to a virtual stagnation here). To my utter disappointment, nearly 75% of the jobs/companies are "touch-me-nots" because they do not want to deal with H1s!!

Remaining 25% are through some consulting companies & they are ready to fleece you, simply because you are on H1! While I agree that H1 transfers (& possible GC) do cost money, but the "tone" of the conversation takes an entirely different meaning when I state my residency status.

I am still firm on R2I, & this fact may just hasten the process, but just wanted to get your responses if any of you ever faced a situation where residency status has become the biggest hurdle in getting a suitable position, more than the qualifications & experience?

More importantly, is it actually true that H1s are (& treated as) nothing but cheap labors, who can not make it big unless they get permanent residency? Please note that I am not cribbing, because I knew fully well what I am getting into when I came to US on H1 (it is a temporary work permit, not a pathway to professional glory....)

Finally, has this kind of a situation motivated any of you or your friends to R2I??

Chicago Desi · Post by **Chicago Desi** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:04 am

H1 limits career opportunities for sure. What really limits your career is going through the GC process. Because of the process, you cannot change jobs or even change designations a whole lot. You are stuck in a quagmire and its very frustrating. One can easily lose prime growth years in one's career because of this H1-GC BS.

Desi_by_Nature · Post by **Desi_by_Nature** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:53 am

I agree with C_D.

I think professionally it's best to be on H1 for a while, maybe even change a job or two until you land up in a company and job that you really like and see yourself growing in.
At that point commit yourself to the GC process.

Having the flexibility to switch jobs early in your career is very important. It allows you have a better sense of what direction you want your career to head into and helps you build a network.

Chicago Desi · Post by **Chicago Desi** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 1:59 am

Any constraints like H1 and GC are bad for the career because they limit your risk taking and do not allow change of jobs for better opportunities. It also makes you timid because you have a Damocles sword hanging over your neck. You have to put up with a lot of BS in the fear that you may lose your job and be back at square one. For most people, that is just not an option (unless you have a lot of resources to fall back on in the US or in India).

coolMBA · Post by **coolMBA** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 12:53 pm

Finally, has this kind of a situation motivated any of you or your friends to R2I??

I know a few who considered this when they R2ied (This wasnt the only reason). They wanted to move from being a developer to being a manager. But then they had specific goals earn xxx $ and R2I, getting a better jobs was just one of the incentives. This being said a lot of Indian companies give more technical jobs to R2Iers. i.e they push them to the architect path instead of the manager path. In any case You are already a PM/BA so shouldnt apply to you.

But typically career growth (at least in the number of people reporting to you not in the budget that you handle) is greater in India

DesBhakt · Post by **DesBhakt** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:39 am

I'm going through the same phase. Very frustrating :emangry:

Especially when you know that you want to move on, to do something else, BUT have to hang around for don't know how many more years!

mattazoid · Post by **mattazoid** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:31 am

Look if you have plans to R2I then this is the best time to do it. If you wanted to stay here you should have applied for GC. U did not. Now no use being surprised by fleecing in the H1B market.

If u'r plans to go to India are firm then just do it man. The more you attach yourself here the more difficult it is to uproot.

best of luck

bshobhit · Post by **bshobhit** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:53 pm

mattazoid;61878Look if you have plans to R2I then this is the best time to do it. If you wanted to stay here you should have applied for GC. U did not. Now no use being surprised by fleecing in the H1B market.

If u'r plans to go to India are firm then just do it man. The more you attach yourself here the more difficult it is to uproot.

best of luck[/quote]

I never said I wanted to stay here "now". Infact, if you read it carefully, I said the company wants to start the process, not I. I have been with this co for almost 2 years, I could have started it day 1 if I wanted to stay here.

Point I was trying to make is, H1 is a roadblock (& I myself agreed that I was prepard for it, since it is no more than a temp work permit). What I am surprised about is that the ugly truth is that majority employers treat H1 as cheap substitutes, & no one really cares about the skills an immigrant worker can bring.

I am absolutely firm on the move & obviously have the dates in mind...it is just that while I am here, I did not expect the truth to be so naked:emteeth:

Desi_by_Nature · Post by **Desi_by_Nature** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 9:19 pm

bshobhit;62496What I am surprised about is that the ugly truth is that majority employers treat H1 as cheap substitutes, & no one really cares about the skills an immigrant worker can bring.[/quote]

depends where you work. If you work for a small time desi consulting firm, yes they will treat you like cheap labor. But big companies - especially technology companies, big ISVs etc. - will treat you as well as every other employee.

If you are not too keen on getting GC, then don't compromise your career over it. Changing jobs on H1 is possible - and for skills that have enough demand, there are plenty of good companies willing to sponsor H1 for those jobs.
I would be really surprized if a SAP consultant or an experienced Java programmer gets turned down in this market because of visa sponsorship.