The Problem
Every year, over 200,000 skilled immigrant workers apply for the H-1B lottery, which only grants 85,000 opportunities to apply. The process guarantees nothing, which leaves many skilled workers in a state of constant limbo, anxiety, and uncertainty.
Pranav Diwate was one of these workers. Originally from Nagpur, India, Pranav studied then worked as a software engineer for two years in Pune, before taking his first flight out of his home country to pursue a master’s in computer science at the University of Texas.
“I just wanted the American lifestyle,” Pranav explains. “I think that’s what everyone sees in movies, Hollywood, and everywhere else. Life is much easier here.”
He got experience working in the US through an internship on his student work permit, the Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa – a temporary educational visa where students can receive up to 12 months of employment with options for limited extensions.
Upon graduation, and after a visa extension, Pranav knew his time on his OPT visa was limited. So he applied for an H-1B visa. He explains that in the US, he could only work in a profession related to his education unless he was a student. He says that many start-up companies were hesitant to sponsor H-1B workers. It’s a flawed system that takes a toll on many workers.
“I just wanted the American lifestyle,” Pranav explains. “I think that’s what everyone sees in movies, Hollywood, and everywhere else. Life is much easier here.”
In early 2018, Pranav took a job as a web developer for Pension Live, a customizable web-based pension management company in Dallas.
Pranav’s wife had joined him in the US in 2020, but she could not work because she didn’t have the appropriate visa, leaving the couple on a single income.
He applied for his H-1B visa three years in a row but was never selected in the lottery.
“After the third H-1B denial, we started taking it seriously.”
Without attaining his visa, Pranav and his wife would have to leave the US. As a valued member of his team, Pension Live looked for ways to keep Pranav employed.
The Impact
Even if Pranav had received his H-1B visa, he says it’s taken some of his friends up to 20 years for US Immigration to complete the permanent residency process.
“My sister has been in Colorado for 17 years,” he says. “Now she has two daughters, and they are struggling because they have to wait for H-1B extensions. They don’t know when their Green Card will be picked up and it’s really difficult for the kids.”
“We have a flawed process here in the US,” shares Syndesus Founder Marc Pavlopoulos. “It’s not helpful. It’s stressful.The lessons that I would share with someone in this situation is to have parallel tracks: try to stay in the US, but also consider trying for Canada.”
Parents can be sent back to their home country if their visa expires, but what happens to their children? It’s a source of anxiety for many families living in the US and applying for visa extensions.
But without his H-1B after his final lottery, Pranav had to leave the US and his US job.
That’s when his employer found Syndesus, a Canadian Professional Employer Organization (PEO), and started exploring options of relocating Pranav and his wife to Canada to work remotely.
“We have a flawed process here in the US,” shares Syndesus Founder Marc Pavlopoulos. “It’s not helpful. It’s stressful. The lesson that I would share with someone in this situation is to have parallel tracks: try to stay in the US, but also consider trying for Canada.”
The Solution
Canada welcomes highly-skilled foreign workers through their Global Talent Stream program and the process towards permanent residency is far simpler and less costly compared to the US Work permits can be approved within 30-60 days and spouses are also eligible for work visas, providing the optional added benefit of dual-income.
As an approved Canadian employer through Global Talent Stream, Syndesus helps American companies relocate skilled employees who are at risk of losing their US visas.
“If I just go downstairs, there is a beach, and 20 minutes from my house I can go to any mountains, lakes, and go to the places I love. Vancouver is good for me in that sense.”
At the end of 2020, Pranav and his wife sold many of their belongings, packed up the rest, and within a few weeks, they were off to start a new adventure – one with (hopefully) a little more security.
Without ever having been to Canada, the Diwates relocated to Vancouver at the beginning of the year, where Pranav could work remotely for Pension Live. He says he chose Vancouver because of his passion for the outdoors.
“If I just go downstairs, there is a beach, and 20 minutes from my house I can go to any mountains, lakes, and go to the places I love. Vancouver is good for me in that sense.”
Using Syndesus, Pranav is able to keep his US job and is now on his way to obtaining Canadian permanent residency. Syndesus takes care of Pranav’s healthcare benefits, taxes, and legal Canadian immigration, while he continues to work at his job. He says he plans to stay in Vancouver for at least five years.
“We are starting to slowly build up our life again,” he said.
The Results
As Pranav and his wife settle into West Coast life in the Great White North, they are beginning to notice the little things that make Canada such a great place to call home. His wife is now able to work and is actively looking for a job.
“Canada has so many diverse people working in each and every field. It’s really nice to see that. I think in the states, the people who own the businesses came their way back. Here you can see new people and new immigrants working everywhere around you, so that’s good.”
“I know, I’ve got something unique with Syndesus,” says Marc. ”This does work. We can do this. It’s not crazy. It may take several months, but it provides so much hope for people like Pranav who’ve done everything right.”
Like many others around the world, because of the pandemic, Pranav and his colleagues at Pension Live work remotely, so he says work feels similar. The biggest difference is that he has to wake up a little earlier on Pacific Time than many of his colleagues in the US
After so much change in just a few years, Pranav is looking forward to getting settled in his new home.
“I know, I’ve got something unique with Syndesus,” says Marc. ”This does work. We can do this. It’s not crazy. It may take several months, but it provides so much hope for people like Pranav who’ve done everything right.”
When asked if he has any advice for other foreign-born tech workers in the US who may be waiting for their H-1B visa, Pranav smiled:
“If they are waiting for their H-1B, I think they should come to Canada. Just thinking that everything will be okay in the future isn’t enough. It’s good to have a backup,” he says.
Losing the H-1B lottery doesn’t have to be the end of the road. For people like Pranav and companies like Pension Live, PEOs like Syndesus are adding a glimmer of hope to a frustrating and dismal situation.
“Covid’s changed everything. Everyone is working so hard and things are taking a while. If you have a chance, start the application to come to Canada as soon as possible.”
