A H1B only makes as much as a fresh US graduate makes

[A Bhattacharya]

The H1B consultants say that the salary for the 1st year would be 54k to 65k. This seems very less and no more than what a fresh graduate in US would make. And it seems to me like they make no salary distinction between a 2 year experienced vs 5 year experienced candidate from India. Is it true? If they choose to remain in India the experience is definitely recognized and salary is based accordingly.

[Mark Herschberg]

In my hiring experience of over 70 people I have generally paid more to someone with a US education and 2 years of US experience than someone with an education from India and 5 years of experience there.* So perhaps the market is taking it into account.

*I have worked with around 75+ US developers and 50+ Indian developers although for the most part, I generally can't find candidates with experience in India who I want to hire in the first place.

--Mark

[A Bhattacharya]

So it it worth going on H1B or not?

[Eric Lemaitre]

Hi Bhattacharya,

So it it worth going on H1B or not?

I would say clearly NO, not at this time, especially with a no growth or even recession perspective for US.

Best regards.

[Arjun Shastry]

Originally posted by Eric Lemaitre:

I would say clearly NO, not at this time, especially with a no growth or even recession perspective for US.

Best regards.[/QB]

I did quick search in keywords like ajax and I get many jobs in www.dice.com Possibly you won't find even 50% of these jobs in countries like India/China.In many positions recruiter is ready to give referral too.I am hearing no growth/stagnant market for years but see people still rushing and companies actively recruiting for H1 and L1.Some positions like this does not accept H1 and still position is open since 1st Feb!!Employer is ready to offer upto 80K which I think is a good amount.

[Ulf Dittmer]

Originally posted by Eric Lemaitre:
So it it worth going on H1B or not?

I would say clearly NO, not at this time, especially with a no growth or even recession perspective for US.

Whether or not it's worth doing something like this depends on so many personal factors -which we know nothing about- that it's preposterous to give advice like this. Keep in mind that you don't know the motives of other people posting here.

[Tim Holloway]

I haven't worked with as many Indians as Mark, but the ones I know I think highly of. Not all are first-raters, but the best of the are as good as the best of those I know from other countries, be they this one or another. But that's really just opinion.

H1-Bs are by law supposed to be paid the same amount as native workers. However I've seen studies that claim that the actual rate paid is only about 60% of that amount.

Why the differential? Allegedly, because while if I lose my job, as an American Citizen (or whatever that has devolved to in these diminished times) I sweat about losing my house due to inability to make payments. An H1-B, however has a LOT more to worry about. Fail to find employment in the requisite amount of time and the H1-B gets summarily deported. Hence, they can be pressured into a lower salary since it's still a much better pay rate in absolute dollars than is possible in India.

Or at least that's been true up till now. With payscales rising in India and with the dollar falling against the rupee, the advantage of H1-B vs. native talent for purely financial reasons is eroding.

On no account, however, do I recommend anyone accept an L-1 visa. It's downright abusive. You get an Indian salary (slightly augmented), and have to live according to the American cost of living.

[ankur rathi]

People go at 60K but it�s not what they get always. In 6 months time, they get increment. If they switch (change) to other consultants or company (if lucky), they can make may be 80k, later on they might find job with hourly rates. Its lot of money. If you are going for money, go ahead. All the best.

* All information above is based on 'NO FACT', just heard from friends/collogues etc.

[Luke Kolin]

Originally posted by Tim Holloway:
On no account, however, do I recommend anyone accept an L-1 visa. It's downright abusive. You get an Indian salary (slightly augmented), and have to live according to the American cost of living.

I suppose for Indians that may be true, but there's nothing about the L-1 that requires this. I've known many foreign nationals receiving a competitive US wage on an L-1, but none were Indians.

The L-1 has the added benefit that L-2 spouses can work.

Cheers!

Luke

[Kevin Smither]

I echo Tim's sentiment about L1s. I personally know people from India on L1 via [Company] that are being paid poverty wages. These people are living 4 in a 1 bedroom because otherwise they cannot afford to live on their salary. They are made to work like dogs (60 hr weeks). People, is this what the USA stands for? What a shame!

I ask these people why they want to work under such austere conditions and they say because they have no option, they joined [Company] and were sent here. They thought US experience will benefit them.

SHAME ON [Company]!!! and shame on the GREEDY US company that turns a blind eye to this sort of abuse.

[ February 19, 2008: Message edited by: Kevin Smither ]
[Company name removed by Dave]
[ February 24, 2008: Message edited by: David O'Meara ]

[shalu sharma]

Originally posted by Mark Herschberg:

*I have worked with around 75+ US developers and 50+ Indian developers although for the most part, I generally can't find candidates with experience in India who I want to hire in the first place.

I would be interested in knowing more about your experience that led you to come to this conclusion. What you found to be not upto the mark with the indian software guys ?

Thanks
Shalu

[Gabriel Claramunt]

I would be interested in knowing more about your experience that led you to come to this conclusion. What you found to be not upto the mark with the indian software guys ?

Of course, I don't speak for Mark, but in my experience, I found that usually there's subtle differences about how each culture approach communication and work. Is not only a US-India issue, it happens everywhere: it takes a while to adjust to a new culture (but if you keep an open mind, is a very enriching experience).
As a manager, clearly you will like to hire a candidate that can "hit the ground running" and doesn't need much time to adjust, particularly in software development where communication and teamwork have huge importance. I bet an Indian manager will prefer to hire an Indian than somebody form other country with the same level of experience.
On the other hand, once everybody get used to them, the cultural differences are an advantage for the team.
[ February 25, 2008: Message edited by: Gabriel Claramunt ]