Ask HN: moving to US

If I were you, I'd stay exactly where I was, open a small business selling software on the Internet to rich Westerners, quit my dayjob as soon as I covered my previous salary, and then expand your little sideline into something as big as you want to go.<p>You may feel you are not founder material yet. Break that down into exactly what you don't have going for you. Then, learn it as you go. Marketing, for example, really isn't black magic. Pricing is not black magic.<p>(If I can make a quick comment based on my previous professional dealings with Indian companies: "We're the cheapest possible price!" is a terrible, terrible way to position yourself. However, the fact that you have the cheapest possible living standards among similarly situated software firms means you will hit ramen profitability, or curry profitability if you'd rather, much faster than the rest of us will when charging the same price. That is sort of nice.)<p>Take this and all other advice (including the advice you're relying on to make your determination that you are not founder material) with a grain of salt.

This image enumerates all the possibilities: <a href="http://www.reason.com/images/07cf533ddb1d06350cf1ddb5942ef5ad.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.reason.com/images/07cf533ddb1d06350cf1ddb5942ef5a...</a><p>Chances are that you'll have to go the H1B route. Which ain't pretty, because most employers automatically ignore job applications with those dreaded letters.<p>You'll save yourself a bunch of time and trouble by researching the companies that do employ on H1B. Meebo is one: <a href="http://gigaom.com/2008/07/05/meebos-jen-how-to-find-hard-to-find-talent/" rel="nofollow">http://gigaom.com/2008/07/05/meebos-jen-how-to-find-hard-to-...</a> .<p>Also, mention the need for H1B as early as possible in the application process (cover letter is a good place), so that you don't ace the interviews only to get rejected for that reason. Another possibility is to offer to pay the legal costs of H1B applications (in the region of US$5000).

I think I can somewhat relate to where you are coming from. I did my Bachelor's in Engg from Mumbai in 2001 and then went to the US - did my MS there, dabbled in Google SoC, worked in a Sunnyvale startup, lived in SF for three years and have just returned back for good to Mumbai last week after living away from here for eight years.<p>The plan for returning here was to start something of own.<p>One of my key reasons for returning was the cumbersome H1B/GC process. After living in the US for five+ years I was still three years away from getting a GC. And this is hugely limiting if you want to work for a real early-stage startup which is where the real excitement is.. and they can rarely sponsor H1Bs.<p>There is an article by Paul Graham on Founders Visa - <a href="http://www.paulgraham.com/foundervisa.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.paulgraham.com/foundervisa.html</a>. Honestly, until this becomes are reality I would say that having a H1B and looking for work with a real YC kind of startup is not really feasible and rarely works out.<p>I do not have answers for the questions you have asked above. But I can share some of my experiences of working full-time in Mumbai, Bangalore and the SF Bay Area.<p>One thing you have got right for the startup mindset is your desire not to work in the kind of onsite/services jobs that the "big" IT firms from India provide. If you feel you would like to explore some creative/innovative technology start-up type of work there is a good chance you'll have to form your own team and take the leap. While I agree with you that the start-up culture in India is different - I'm not sure I can completely grasp what you mean by efforts/returns ratio is inadequate. "Returns" is very subjective.<p>I think if you work on some of the strengths of having a start-up in India but with global reach and applications - then there is no reason why you would not be able to get adequate returns as well as the kind of satisfaction.. if that is also something that you are looking for.<p>I'm available on email to discuss this further..

Funny, a little ways below is a thread about people moving <i>out</i> of the US in order to start a startup so they can decrease their cost of living...<p><a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=751742" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=751742</a>

If I were you I'd take advantage of the fact that you're in India to start a local start-up. As others mentioned, your costs will be lower. Not only that, but you may be able to spot opportunities which have already been filled in the US, and "port" those solutions to India successfully.<p>At the very least, you should be able to make yourself enough money that you can then move to the US without worrying about getting a job.

I think patio11 has some excellent advice. On top of that, why not partner with someone who is already in US? That way you can have benefits of (one co-founder) being in India and benefits of (other co-founder) being in US. I live in US and I would love to explore options to partner someone in India. Being Indian myself, I know that there are some business models which have very good potential and require presence in India and US both. e.g. selling westerns clothes (with traditional india designs) made in india over web. I have other ideas too, some geeky, some not-so-geeky. If you are interested, send me a one liner on 'my HN user name' at gmail dot com. we can share some ideas and may be collaborate if we hit it off.

You can try for an E5 Visa (investor) -- the companies here are not exactly high tech but you need $500k<p><a href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/smallbusiness/0907/gallery.eb_5_visa_cash_without_borders.smb/index.html" rel="nofollow">http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/smallbusiness/0907/galle...</a>

How about O1 visas (emporary workers and trainees: extraordinary ability or achievement)? Any experience on how hard is to get one?

I've only heard of mid to large sized companies sponsoring H1Bs, but startups rarely. Maybe they don't have time for the red tape?

hii, i am also based in india. i wonder have you considered working in good US firms(google, amazon et. al.)in india itself. the reason i am asking is why one has to move to US if those companies have a presence here(hoping same culture,work as done in US ).

You know, my friend....one thing you could do is marry an american girl? haha