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Comment by _3u10 | Hacker News Reader

It really depends on where you are, I'm Canadian and in the same boat.

If I had a degree I could get a TN1 VISA, in 6 months I'll have enough work exp to qualify anyway (12 years). I could get an H1B but it seems like too much hassle.

The UK will apparently accept me, I have to say there's a world of difference between UK and US immigration, anytime I've dealt with US immigration I felt like wanting to do anything another than vacation in the US was criminal. In the UK however they seemed A OK as long as I had a return flight, they were even friendly.

Although it didn't pan out as I was extremely jet lagged, sleep deprived and bombed the interview I'd highly recommend talking to Facebook, their people were super accommodating and really went the extra mile to get talent on board. They basically figured out all my VISA options worldwide for me.

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When I went to the U.S. last, immigration made me feel like a criminal even though it was just for a holiday. I think it's just part of the U.S. immigration experience. Greatest country on earth, don'tcha know.

The hiring company will take care of most of the H1-B bullshit & cost for you, so from that perspective that shouldn't be a problem. The US also pays far better than Canada or the UK.

Some weird grumpy people at the border that you might deal with for 5 hours a year tops seems a bit out of proportion. Plus SFO is pretty friendly as far as us border people go. They wont treat you as a criminal if you have the H1-B visa already anyway.

> Some weird grumpy people at the border that you might deal with for 5 hours a year tops seems a bit out of proportion.

For the TN-1 visa, these "weird grumpy people" may, during any one of those visits, choose to deny you re-entry, completely at their whim. And there's nothing you can do about it if they do.

If you are denied the entry, Do you know how long you have to wait to reattempt it? (for the TN-1 visa)

As a guy who re-enters the USA about 5 to 10 times a year with such a TN visa, with SFO, SEA, local processing at YVR, and BC/WA land/sea border crossings that is a very overblown worry. The more you cross the border, the more of a 'known' person you become and the less of a probability that becomes. You can also appeal such denials, try applying again and so on.

The scariest part is when your applying for the TN visa at the border. Make sure your hiring company lawyers draft the letter properly and possibly bring proof it's a real company if it's a new startup and so on. Don't do it yourself. Don't act like your trying to commit fraud with them because your nervous, and stick to whatever your paperwork says. If it says 'computer systems analyst', your job is a computer systems analyst. Not lead CSA, just CSA. Same with 'graphic designer', 'accountant' and so on.

I checked the H1B database for iOS engineers and it doesn't look that much better, not sure if those are fresh grad salaries or experienced person salaries.

Apple looked like they were paying about ~$10K more than here which is easily eaten by rent.

What's going rate for an Lead iOS Engineer with 12 years exp? (4 on iOS)

I have no idea where your coming from, what you do and so on so I can't compare that well. For me, vancouver rent is only couple hundred dollars less, if at all cheaper than the SFBA. Houses are close to the same price as the SFBA. When I was looking around in vancouver vs. seattle as a new grad, I was getting about a $40k annual difference. I've added about another $40k after several years and moving down to the SFBA.

You get stock/bonus compensation on top of that. If it's a startup then your getting non-liquid stock for the chance of a big payout later. For a publicly traded company, you pretty much treat it as an extra amount of cash that can amount to another $20-40k+.

That H1B salary searcher is diluted by guys that aren't paid that well at Wipro for example and doesn't include other forms of compensation. I also don't know if it includes raises over time. You also get such things as all 3 meals, gyms, etc which can amount to another $300-700/month. Everything is more expensive in Canada & the UK. If you live in a non income tax state, your income tax is reduced by another %10. California total income tax is about the same as BC, but WA is definitely lower than anywhere in Canada. Your employed so you have health care too.

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