We like to do things differently here in the Seattle area
Comments
Anonymous
June 15, 2007
I came across the blog posts and started wondering what Microsoft plans to do with cases like these? should International ppl like me bother applying? http://marchfirst.squarespace.com/blog/2007/6/6/its-official-my-microsoft-career-is-over-before-it-even-star.html http://awesomearpit.blogspot.com/Anonymous
June 15, 2007
Hmm, a little off topic. Jim - each case is different (sounds like there were some reasons why this person's TN was declined that he didn't share which is private info and his choice not to share it, of course). My immediate team doesn't handle visa processing and I've personally not been in a role where I have handled iot for someyears, but I know some of my colleagues do. I can tell yo that we are concerned with our ability to hire foreign nationals for positions at Microsoft, just like all other big tech companies. You may have seen some of the reports of Bill Gates speaking before Congress on this very issue. I'd say that if a company like Microsoft is where you want to work, educate yourself on the legal requirements of the visas. Then talk to the recruiter and any attorney they can put you in touch with (incidentally, you may want to consult an attorney on your own....corporate immigration attorneys handle many, many cases and may not be available on a case-by-case basis for a consultation). At the point the offer is made and the paperwork is submitted, it's in the governments lap and there's no way to tell who will get approved and who won't, since it is a lottery. I'm not going to tell you to not try for something awesome because it might not work out. Even with the interview process, there's no guarantee (though I realize that it's different receiving an offer and then waiting to find out if the government is going to get you take it). I think the best thing you can do is really know the strength of your visa petition before it gets filed. And this is the part where I mention that I do not have a legal background and this is not legal advice. :) I can tell you that this is an important issue for us and we know how life-changing a job move can be, especially an international one. Personally, I am sorry that the system in place is so frustrating for people. I am sure I would feel the same way. This is a challenge that you will be up against in applying to other companies in the US as well, unfortunately (we have excellent attorneys). If I were in your position, I'd definitely consider great companies that are willing to process a visa petition; but I'd keep in mind that there's a chance the visa may not come through and I'd have to make other plans. I'm just a "go-for-it" type of person. But obviously, that's a personal choice that you have to make for yourself.Anonymous
June 15, 2007
OK, notice to other commenters that this was not an open invitation to go off topic. If you have an idea of a topic you think I should blog about, feel free to e-mail me. Being able to determine the topics here is one of the priveleges that comes with all the time I spend feeding this blog. So if you are going to comment, please keep it relevant to the topic at hand (which was goats, by the way...good luck). I only answered Jim Cai's because it was a subject that's worth a blog post of it's own but he teed it up for me so nicely that I wanted to respond here.Anonymous
June 15, 2007
Is it just me, or does that border collie have a "get me out of here" look? BTW - my undergrad major was Environmental Science, which is relevant to two posts now!Anonymous
June 15, 2007
See...who said that wouldn't come in handy? At the very least, it allows you to interpret the facial expressions of dogs in the herding class :) I love the goat idea, but I am trying to imagine them chewing their way through my backyard and I just can't get there. I will say thought that on my way to Issaquah to visit friends, I would pass by what I referred to as "the goat". And there are lots of horses and trails where I live. It's nice to have animals so close by.Anonymous
June 15, 2007
That's a great story. We had a huge fire in Los Angeles' Griffith Park because of the underbrush and more than a few people have suggested bringing goats in. If you can believe it, I was out hiking with my family this spring and on the way back were passed by another family and their full-sized goat. Yes, they hike as well.Anonymous
June 16, 2007
I know that he is going through hard times.. but that "awesomearpit" blog ( http://awesomearpit.blogspot.com ) posted by Jim Cai is Hiii-Larious! Hire that guy as a comic writer if the tech thing doesnt work out! Oh and also.. another environ sci major here (who wouldve thunk it we'd have TWO of us in the comment section of a microsoft marketing blog!)Anonymous
June 17, 2007
Tim - was Julie ANdrews with them? Just curious. Steve - that just goes to show that I am not allowed to be a judge of what people find funny. This topic has come up a lot lately. Evidently, there's a certain pool of things that other people find funny and what I find funny is s small subset of that pool. I'm literally having to ask other people "is this funny?"...kind of like that TV commercial (is it for TBS?). Anyway, I feel for Arpit, but... Also, who knew my blog was a web destination for the environmental science set? I feel like I should ask you guys questions about something related to that.Anonymous
June 17, 2007
The comment has been removed