How much does getting your master's degree in the US help you in terms of chances to get H1-B?

[Iknownothing 0]

I'm a student in Sweden currently studying Computer science and engineering at Chalmers University. I will finish my bachelor's degree next year and I'm thinking about going to the US to get a master's degree in computer science. I have a strong GPA and GRE score so I would think my chances are pretty high to get accepted to grad school at a good university. The reason why I'm thinking about doing this is because I read that there are 20k H1-B visas each year that are exclusive to people who graduate with a master's degree or higher from an American university. I have been to the US many times and I really enjoy it there, and I would really like to live there in the future. I'm just wondering if those "exclusive" visas are gone just as fast as the "normal" ones? Education is free in Sweden so my bachelor's degree haven't cost me anything in terms of tuition fees etc and my master's degree wouldn't either if I decided to get it here. In the US I would probably have to pay around $48k a year for 2 years to get a master's degree, I would have to finance that with a student loan that i get from CSN here in Sweden. Interest rate would be 0.34% and the payback plan is 30 years, you could of course pay it back faster if you wish to.

As I see it, with a master's degree from the US I would be able to work in USA right after graduation on the OPT and then get sponsored with H1-B and then hopefully win a visa since I would qualify for those extra 20k visas. If I were to get my master's degree in Sweden I would probably have to work here for years before an US employer would want to sponsor me with H1-B and then I would have a lower chance to win one because I wouldn't qualify for those extra 20k visas.

[Boiler 45,493]

Lots of ifs and buts and as you say years down the line.

One of the big things you have not mentioned is that the H1b system is subject to major abuse and there is talk and who knows of that being addressed.

[sebastianshaw 97]

I'm a student in Sweden currently studying Computer science and engineering at Chalmers University. I will finish my bachelor's degree next year and I'm thinking about going to the US to get a master's degree in computer science. I have a strong GPA and GRE score so I would think my chances are pretty high to get accepted to grad school at a good university. The reason why I'm thinking about doing this is because I read that there are 20k H1-B visas each year that are exclusive to people who graduate with a master's degree or higher from an American university. I have been to the US many times and I really enjoy it there, and I would really like to live there in the future. I'm just wondering if those "exclusive" visas are gone just as fast as the "normal" ones? Education is free in Sweden so my bachelor's degree haven't cost me anything in terms of tuition fees etc and my master's degree wouldn't either if I decided to get it here. In the US I would probably have to pay around $48k a year for 2 years to get a master's degree, I would have to finance that with a student loan that i get from CSN here in Sweden. Interest rate would be 0.34% and the payback plan is 30 years, you could of course pay it back faster if you wish to.

As I see it, with a master's degree from the US I would be able to work in USA right after graduation on the OPT and then get sponsored with H1-B and then hopefully win a visa since I would qualify for those extra 20k visas. If I were to get my master's degree in Sweden I would probably have to work here for years before an US employer would want to sponsor me with H1-B and then I would have a lower chance to win one because I wouldn't qualify for those extra 20k visas.

Let us assume you get through the admissions process and make it to the US for your masters. As you mentioned that you would be doing it in computer science you get a total of 3 years on OPT (12 months +24 month STEM extension). So basically you have 3 years to try your luck with H1B1.

Do understand that you would be taking a big risk because of the following factors

1) H1B1 if left unchanged by Trumpt administration is basically a still a lottery due to many more people applying than the visa's available. (250000 people applied for 85000 visa's. The 85000 people are selected randomly by a computer and not by merit.

2) Yes 20000 out of those 85000 are reserved for the masters quota but if you do a quick research about the number of international students coming for Masters you would know that it is much more than 20000. So it is no guarantee, it does increase your chances of getting picked up more than somebody who is just in the general quota.

3) Trump Administration might not be very gung ho about H1B1 (they already have a lot of negative press)

I would suggest you should negotiate about how much scholarship you can really get at those schools (u already mentioned of having good scores)

Come to the US do you masters and have 3 chances of going on H1B1, if you think it is worth the effort, great, otherwise you could always go back to Sweden after 3 years of working on your OPT.

Best of Luck

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Or 3 years to fall in love with a USC

[f f 725]

you still have the option to apply for h1b while are are going to school and switch to it if your accepted. so that gives you 2-3 more years of trying.

good lyck

[caliliving 606]

Or 3 years to fall in love with a USC

haha i was going to say the same thing!!! 3yrs gives the OP lots of time to find love:) i would come here for the masters! also, computer engineering in the usa is a good field for hib... get in with a tech company. the best thing also is to get as much US based work experience on ur resume during this time.. work for good tech companies (they usually have the resources to sponsor h1b). apple/ibm/facebook ect do alot of h1bs.. but i really think getting usa based experience is the best for working in the us in the future. so pick your school in an area with some good tech companies and get on tinder lol goodluck!

[randomstairs 303]

You can get the Master's and then the OPT as you said. If you find a sponsor during this period (or fall in love) you can go straight for the green card and stay in the US permanently. That said, Trump admin is a wildcard when it comes to H1B or GC through work.

Off topic: why are you saying the education is free in Sweden? I think you don't give the taxpayers the credit they deserve.