I want to tell you about what really goes on. So if my friend actually goes ahead on an H1B, they are in the US, they studied, now they are basically in the race for H1B, and let’s say they get it. Also, what I see over here sitting in India is that they have all these fancy cars, they have big houses—extremely big houses that they’re buying even in expensive areas in the US. They’re able to work for one of the best employers in the whole world, and those works are what I see. That makes me think, “Hey, this person is so successful.
They’re sending money to their family there.” This is going on—they have all kinds of money now. Maybe I should also go for it. But what is actually hidden by all of these materialistic things is a lot of trauma that people are going through, which is just not made public. Today, we’re going to talk a little bit about that. We’ve been doing this for about five years, I’ve seen hundreds—no, not even hundreds, thousands of people go, and I’ve seen what truly happens. In this video, I’m going to be discussing all of that with you guys.
**H1B Exploitation**
Applicants are being exploited by their employers. Yes, exploitation is real, guys. As an H1B employee, think of yourself like you’re in the shoes of that person.
Let’s say you are walking in the race for H1B. First off, if you want an H1B, you don’t have it. Getting one is not easy—it’s a lottery system. So what you do is you work your ass off, you work long hours, you work extremely overtime almost on a daily basis. On top of that, you work for lesser pay than many Americans they hire. The reason for that is you need that H1B so badly. You’ve spent so much time studying first, now you’re going for an H1B. You need to get that H1B to continue gaining the return on your investment that’s required.
Employers themselves have higher expectations from H1B candidates. They sometimes even create them badly. I’ve seen employers being abusive with such candidates, and yet these candidates continue to work simply because they want to maintain that image to people back home. They want to appear successful—they have these big houses, fancy cars, etc. To maintain that, they will take anything from the employer. Essentially, about twice as much work in the company is done by an H1B candidate, while the American employee is just sitting there not really doing much.
**Lack of Stability**
Next to that, there’s a lot of lack of stability. People are putting their lives on hold—waiting to get their green cards, having children, getting married, and taking the next steps in their lives. It’s very difficult for those six, or seven years. It’s extremely stressful; people have a lot of anxiety due to that.
I’ve seen people dealing with stacks of paperwork just for being on the H1B, not even a green card. It’s a very difficult scenario, and people are putting their lives on hold. This video is not to derail people from the H1B but to spread awareness that these challenges exist. It’s not all roses—you have to work hard for your dreams. It’s not just a walk in the park once you get your H1B and move to the United States.
**The 6-Year Anxiousness**
It’s a continual thing that they learn to live with, trying to push it behind the scenes, but it’s always there in the background. They’re always scared about that. The reason is, that even with an H1B, there’s no stability until you get your green card. To get a green card, you need to wait six years on the H1B, and after that, you can apply. It’s also employer-driven—if the employer decides to apply, they will; if not, they won’t. Additionally, for renewal after three years, USCIS might come back asking for evidence as to why you should continue with the H1B.
**Solution: The O1 Visa**
You might be thinking, is there another alternative to the H1B because it’s quite stressful? Is there some sort of backup? Yes, there is—the O1 visa. The O1 visa is an excellent backup for these people. It has several advantages over the H1B. Personally, I would say the O1 is better than the H1B in most cases. The first biggest reason is that you won’t have to worry about being dependent on any one employer.
You don’t have to worry, “Is this employer going to fire me? What do I do in such a scenario?” With the O1, which is a better visa than the H1B, it is still a non-immigrant visa, but it has a pathway to the green card. This means you can set up your own company, hire yourself through that company, and continue to stay in the US indefinitely. It’s a relief because you don’t need to rely solely on your employer to maintain your visa status. It’s less stressful because you’re not dependent on one employer. You’re safe in that aspect.
Another perk is that you are allowed to work for multiple employers concurrently. You can have your own company sponsoring you, and you can work for multiple employers in parallel if you want. Even if you want to work for just one employer, you can still be employed by your old company and your new one simultaneously. There’s no risk of being kicked out of the country suddenly.
The O1 visa is initially given for three years, just like the H1B, and after that, you can get extensions every year indefinitely. You can apply for a green card after that without issues. On the day you have the H1B visa in your hands, you can start your EB1 green card application. The requirements for the EB1 are exactly what they are for the O1. The most important part is the perks—you can work for multiple employers, set up your own company, and have a stable and secure visa status.
**Conclusion**
We’ve discussed everything in depth, and within that 15-minute video, you’ll understand exactly how to move forward and apply. There’s nothing missing.
Go watch the video—it’s linked in the description below. I hope you enjoyed this video. Make sure to share it with people who need to know, subscribe to the channel, and follow us on Instagram for more such content. I’ll see you in the next one. Goodbye and take care!
