Reply by Nala: ” Hmm. I know lots of guys who did/do this (working in gas stations, in delis, etc.), including my cousins, but it was always temporary until they got their first or next project, and they were usually attending some sort of training classes while working.”

So you are saying that people actually come here on fraud H1Bs and work in gas stations and delis on those fake H1Bs? And to think that most H1B workers keep touting themselves as ” brightest and smartest” people. I think the congress should come up with a law to ban these kind of fake H1B visas. There are enough bright and smart people here without having to bring in the “talented” H1B workers who come on some fake and made up IT job just to land in this country. Better for them to stay in their own countries and live a decent life rather than committing such blantant acts of dishonesty.

I arguing from a 30+ Melbourne Desi perspective. However I still stand by the statement 300K being the cut off point for moving from Oz to USA.

Err–the rational preference for US over Oz on economic grounds seems to kick in considerably below $300K, at least in some fields.

ponniyan – seriously mate consider Oz unless you are stuck to the USA for personal reasons. You can get an Oz PR (Green Card) sitting in the US in about a year or so and then in 4years you can get a ‘white passport’. It used to be 2 years between PR and citizenship. Life is more than running after the INS and Dept of Labor. If you are not in the $300K plus bracket it is probably more prudent to move to Oz. If you are a minimum wage worker then Oz is way better than the US.

Don’t know if superannuation (super) and social security can be compared. Super is more like a private retirement plan.

Social Security is for a pension unlike superannuation which is a defined contribution scheme. Either ways it converts current income to deferred income. At least in the case of Super one has the option of taking it back when you leave the country – Social Security is a black hole. Not sure how many follow oz politics but we kicked out one government for introducing an american style hire and fire system.

Is that what Bush was trying to do to SS?

that sounds cool..

If Kevin Rudd has his way – we will soon be selling Latin American real estate to Chinese investors – there is a decent economy but you wont get the big bucks that you get in the USA although given the way the USD is moving who knows.

Don’t know if superannuation (super) and social security can be compared. Super is more like a private retirement plan. Its in your name all the time, you can make contributions, the govt makes co-contribution till some income level. You can change the fund manager (exit fees apply), you can have more than one fund, you can have a self managed fund, you have a choice how your super is invested. You can pick a low risk cash, balanced, growth and a few higher risk options. Plus all the tax advantages of super – lower tax rate of 15% and none for withdrawals after the age of 60 makes it great investment. If you leave the country with no intention of coming back you get all the super in your name (contributions + investment returns) without being subject to the tax.

You can’t do any of that with social security. Social security mainly invests in assets backed by US Government. A super fund can invest in anything it wants from listed trusts, to international shares, to oz equity, to hedge funds, to CMOs. It just puts different categories and advises you on the risk and you choose how much risk you want to take.

so does this mean I can finally go back to OZ and get a phat job with chuff perqs? I thought the insurance industry over there was too small to support the kind of job market I can rely on over here in the states.