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Comment by dachworker | Hacker News Reader

If that's the case would you not expect there to me more European H-1Bs, the reasoning being that if these VISAs are not merit based but gaming the system, then why aren't Europeans taking advantage of this opportunity to get a 2x/3x salary bump, and loads more growth opportunities? What am I missing?

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Because some of us don't want to live in the US?!

As an Australian, I could easily earn at least twice what I earn here in the US, but no amount of money would entice me to put up with dealing with your healthcare system or to subject my kids to "active shooter drills" at school.

I lived in Europe for close to a decade, and I can assure you many Europeans share this sentiment.

Weirdly enough, I grew up an Americophile, watching Beverly Hills 90210 while reading about Jefferson and Washington as a teenager. To this day I have a picture of Abe Lincoln on my wall.

Because a 2x bump isn't perceived to be enough to justify all the drawbacks and hoops : extra cost of living (healthcare, travel), being treated as a second class citizen, and of course the H1B lottery.

Because Europeans don’t want to work 60-80hrs/week. Many don’t want to leave home. And the ones which do, are a minority. Thus you see low percentages of h1b go to europeans

Do all H1Bs really work 60-80 hours weeks? This is an honest question I find this very surprising. Also are the American colleagues of these H1B employees working significantly less hours, how does this work in practice?

In my experience, yes. Over the years I was involuntarily tasked to manage H1Bs. During onboarding, they always tell me things like they are happy to pull all nighters on my whim. I tried to be professional. I told them I am not tracking when they come to the office or when they leave. I don’t check who is logged in after hours. I only care if their stories especially critical ones are being blocked.

A director gently reprimanded me for my naivety and said his standard practice is to always promise dinner in the office and dinner is always late like 9PM. He expected a 996 culture in the US.

Ok. How has this worked out long term? Were the H1B indentured employees fully segregated from American employees? How was the attitude and collaboration from both sides?

As you would expect. The best non H1B workers started quitting. The teams who had H1B and non H1B working from 9AM to 9PM delivered a Frankenstein system that broke everyday. My little team delivered something that wasn’t as shitty. Eventually the powers that be had enough. The Director and his boss were let go and the entire crew of H1Bs were given their walking papers. Some departments still have H1B but through a different staffing agency.

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