How it started
I came to the US in 2013 as a student with not much idea how the immigration system worked but I knew one thing when I landed in San Francisco: I wanted to work in Silicon Valley. “Get married to a US citizen or try to get a visa sponsorship at a tech company if you want to stay in the US” was the most common advice. I opted in for the latter.
In 2014, I landed my first role in Palo Alto at a burgeoning startup poised for international expansion. I applied just as they sought a German and Russian-speaking marketing specialist to help with their European launch. As a recent graduate with limited leverage, needing visa sponsorship, US work experience, and stronger English skills, I was offered the position on the condition that I manage both roles. Eager and determined, I embraced the challenge, confident that hard work would pave the way. By 2015, I had secured an H1B visa through a lottery with a favorable 60% chance of success (nowadays it’s 20%), and legally proving my role did not displace American workers. Little did I know this was merely the beginning of a long and arduous immigration journey.
Presidents and visas
In 2016, Trump’s administration drastically reshaped immigration laws. As I approached my visa renewal, it became clear that I would need to secure a position with greater responsibility and nearly double the salary at a new company to remain in the US. The new regulations demanded visa holders meet higher salary thresholds and exhibit exceptional technical expertise. Faced with the possibility of deportation, I knew I needed to find a more substantial role. Also, many tech companies halted hiring visa holders due to the increased difficulty of visa renewals and lengthy petition processes amid the shifting political climate. It was an incredibly frustrating and daunting period.
Fortunately, a few months later, I landed an opportunity at a prominent cybersecurity startup in San Francisco, allowing me to extend my stay for another three years. It felt like a massive triumph. With my visa’s expiration approaching, I was eager to start the green card process. But every thriller has an unexpected plot twist for its heroine. Soon, my new manager’s behavior became increasingly unprofessional, marked by erratic actions. It became clear that I would need to change jobs and, with that, secure a new visa once again. By this point, I was exhausted from endless lawyer consultations, reliance on companies’ willingness to sponsor me, and the constant uncertainty. US immigration law doesn’t permit breaks between jobs and an H1B visa holder must have a sponsor at all times, making it feel as though you have no rights at all. The allure of the US was beginning to fade for me. Although my manager was eventually fired, I had already set my sights on a new job and was determined to give the US one last try.
Almost there!
Soon after I received an offer from a fintech company in Santa Monica and they were ready to sponsor my new visa immediately, as well as help with the green card a few months later down the line. I was intrigued by the work they were doing in emerging markets, I liked my new manager, and I was finally at a point in my career where I was able to choose what I wanted – not driven by anxiety but intuition. And I had always dreamt of living by the beach and surfing the warmer waters of SoCal which made a compelling case for moving down to Los Angeles.
Even though at every step the immigration system set up crazy hurdles, I finally received my green card on Christmas 2021 – 7 years after I started working towards that goal and 3 weeks before my US visa would officially run out. Until the very end I was never sure if I would be kicked out of the country.
Learning from the experience
Reflecting on the journey, I marvel at how I emerged from the struggle – not unscathed, but certainly stronger. I was fortunate to have several pillars of support that sustained me: a circle of friends and family who guided me through Silicon Valley’s complex career landscape. When the pandemic confined me to the US, camping trips with my boyfriend became a sanctuary. I had the legal counsel and financial means to secure skilled lawyers, without whom navigating immigration would have been near impossible. My anxieties found solace in the cold waves of San Francisco, where surfing provided a therapeutic escape like no other. And finally, I had the backing of managers who not only championed my immigration efforts but also encouraged my growth, ultimately playing a crucial role in securing my green card.
A case for a better immigration system
Many Americans are surprised by how their immigration system actually works. Rather than favoring skilled, law-abiding immigrants, it often traps immigrants in Kafkaesque legal mazes, compounded by the uncertainty and harsh visa restrictions we saw during the Trump years. Only 15% of green cards are employment-based, while 70% go to those married to or related to U.S. citizens, an easier route to residency. While I was fortunate to get my green card in two years, many from countries like China and India face decades-long waits. This system drives away talented individuals who could contribute significantly to the U.S. economy – over 50% of U.S. unicorn CEOs are foreign-born. If America wants to maintain its status as a place of opportunity, it needs to reform its immigration policies.
As a (tech) community in the US, we have the opportunity to profoundly impact the lives of those who seek to immigrate. We should uplift those who come to the US, encouraging them to take risks and honoring the courage it takes to pursue paths many would find too daunting. In my journey, I’ve encountered individuals who have faced immense challenges in their immigration experiences. These are some of the most dedicated, ambitious, and courageous people, willing to sacrifice stability and certainty to embrace daily risks and navigate intense challenges.
Was it all worth it?
They say the journey is the goal, a phrase I came to understand deeply through my immigration process. In the relentless pursuit of a distant goal, it’s easy to lose sight of why you began the chase. Now, as I hold my green card, I see that the fights I faced were far more transformative than the end result itself. The lessons learned – about myself and the tech world – could fill books. While my life has not changed drastically with newfound freedom, the beauty lies in the struggle and the resilience of the human spirit. True growth emerges from overcoming adversity, and if we harness these lessons to build something greater, we can say with certainty: it was incredibly hard, but utterly worth it.
Aljona Tcherniavskaia
ali falls in love 