Mass layoffs are sweeping through the tech industry again, and for many American software engineers, the H1B visa program has become a growing concern. Is it helping fill critical talent gaps—or quietly making things worse? In this vlog, I break down the real-world impact of the H1B program based on over a decade of experience working alongside H1B engineers in the U.S. tech industry. While the program is designed to bring in top-tier talent when qualified American workers are unavailable, the reality is far more complicated. From shocking hiring experiences involving fake resumes and interview fraud, to deeper systemic issues like lottery manipulation and staffing agency abuse, I share firsthand stories that reveal how the system can be exploited. But it’s not just about bad actors. I also highlight the other side, highly skilled H1B engineers who are underpaid, overworked, and trapped in a system that limits their mobility, sometimes for years. This creates a ripple effect that impacts both H1B workers and American engineers by reducing bargaining power and driving down wages. So who really benefits from the current system? More importantly, how do we fix it? In this discussion, I explore potential solutions including: Raising wage requirements for H1B roles Auditing companies for fraud and exploitation Replacing the lottery system with a demand-based model Creating faster pathways to permanent residency for top talent If you’re a software engineer, tech worker, or simply interested in the future of the U.S. job market, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:18 Issues with H1B Program 12:06 Coping Strategies 15:41 Conclusion Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_iEmYXdZJvjxdUMehwSXqw/join Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/codeslingem Subscribe to my Newsletter: https://asiandadenergy.substack.com/ Book a coaching session with me: https://calendly.com/codeslinger1 Buy my merch: https://asian-dad-energy-shop.fourthwall.com/ #layoffs #bigtech #h1bvisa #softwareengineer #outsourcing #developerlife
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Finally, someone said it out loud
LOL, that happens all the time..... my rule was always interview must be in person
You’re like the unanonymous Mini-Microsoft of your day, unveiling the Tech dirty-laundry. :D
There are two hidden types of H1Bs that people don’t understand: 1. International students who get a Masters degree and are directly hired by top tech companies. They are usually pretty well skilled. They would have worked few years in India, and are paid around 150k starting. These are the people you see in Tech hubs like Silicon Valley and Austin. For people wondering how they are affording homes in Santa Clara County, these people are not underpaid, and they drive their White Tesla around and spend thousand dollars in a Costco Run. Their goal is to actually come to the US to drive their career forward, these people end up creating startups, become CEOs etc (I believe you don’t need examples). 2. Fraudulent Staffing firms, that smaller companies rely on to hire cheap workers for 60k-100k. They are directly brought from India and usually get H1B through multiple lottery entries. They fixed the multiple entries loophole only in 2024. They actually get paid only 70% of the pay from the companies as the staffing firm would take 30% of the cut. They operate from remote Midwestern Southern towns with low of cost living. These people are usually not very skilled and their goal is to get a pathway to American Citizenship
Very thoughtful. It's good to hear in depth thinking about how to improve the H1B program based on first hand experience.
Love your contributions of opinions. Make a lot of (meaningful) sense!
I worked for a large Engineering Deisgn company in Houston. Our client was hammering us to get our costs down. They pressured us to use more remote designers and engineers in India. There was a time when there were quite a few people working in construction/design started off as drafter and progressed their way to designer then to Project Engineer and even to Project Manager. But now those rungs in the ladder are being taken away, disallowing many young low-skilled workers with no path to the higher echelons. This is tragic and will make this country poorer.
Thanks!
you got it spot on, the h1b situation
I currently get around this by having interviewees work out problems on paper sitting in the interview room. This weeds out about 99% of the candidates. I have spent my career in Hong Kong and Singapore, and this is not just a U.S. H1B problem. Every company I have been with has fired the better trained local staff for Indian visa holders. They only hire their own there as well. It is shocking how racist they are not only to other people of Asian descent but amongst themselves.
I’m from Argentina and have been working with servers since I was 15. I once tried to apply to live in the U.S. Many architects and colleagues have told me about these kinds of consulting firms, and I’ve heard countless stories on Reddit about the scams they pull with visas. In my country, none of us in the tech field trust them—many consulting firms have been ruined by scandals involving fraud.
Thank you for this video and sharing about H1-B workers
These internal office politics are so fun to listen to. Please keep pumping out more of these contents!
Good ideas.
Spot on!! 👏🏻👏🏻
I’m going to go off topic a bit here: You mentioned your friend who moved here with his family. How he was very competent and good at his job and how he was dragged along for such a long time (glad to hear there’s a good ending). I’m concerned that I’m not at the level of competence for my industry like him. I feel that I work well, and my coworkers and boss seem on good terms with me, but I think about your friend and wonder about my own competence and how I can measure it up without becoming arrogant or blind to flaws. I have no idea how to square the circle of ‘appear good to corporate leadership’, ‘be very good in your industry’, and ‘be someone others want to work with’, and I was wondering if you had any advice on this, even as a video topic. (Not sure if you have this one already 😅)
Glad you covered all perspectives of h1b and also came up with outstanding suggestions.
Modern day slavery. With the way the world is going, can't blame people doing what they do . It's better to just go live out in the woods than give into the system.
great experiences you have shared and analysis of them
Such a great video! I had an H1B visa myself many years ago, worked with many H1B workers, and I can confirm that everything you’ve said is true. Through my H1B years I always got more work than American peers, got bullied and ignored by the management, and my raise was non-existent despite, on paper, I always got good reviews. What made it worse was that even after I got a green card I think people there would still treat me the same way. I can now understand that they believe I, and many others engineers, can be easily replaced by a younger worker (likely also with H1B). I don’t want to sound hypocritical because, every now and then, H1B visas do provide a bridge to keep the smart, hardworking, American-educated immigrants to work for America. But that’s more an exception than the norm now and we really need an overhaul of the system.