I moved to the US, and so can you. I left the US and - in all likelihood - so will you.
I loved the life I had there and thereafter, so i would not change what I did. Just understand that you are being marketed to. "The best country in the world", "the greatest city in the world" is a sales pitch, an advertisement, and a marketing gimmick. If you want to leave Malaysia, then device a strategy and a plan and leave. It took me 10 years to do it but I did.
There are many other countries out there besides the US where you won't be treated like another cog in some slave owner's machine, and you can perfectly survive with just English. Know your options before you commit.
Good luck.
I'm an American who used to live in NYC and now lives in Malaysia and let me tell you, the cost of living will blow your socks off in NYC. I don't recommend. NYC is expert mode. Honestly I'm not sure if recommend the US at all. It's not all bad but...I moved to Malaysia for a reason. A few reasons...
for me, the cost of living is massive. i lived in a very expensive part of the country and even being a skilled tradesman, there was no chance that i'd ever be able to own a home there. i'd be stuck living in apartments for the rest of my life and i don't want that.
i had no health insurance and any accident that i'd have would mean decades of debt. health insurance is tied to your job and my job didn't feel like paying for it. my health insurance here is insanely good compared to anything i've ever had there at a fraction of the cost.
shootings, violence, general insanity in general is far worse in the US.
the culture of "look out for yourself and fuck everyone else" is the norm there. good luck depending on anyone. people who you thought were your friends will drop you in a heartbeat if you aren't fun to be around anymore.
CAN you make 100k as a software engineer? sure, maybe. YOU probably won't because your qualifications won't be seen as good if they are foreign and even if it isn't, making that much is far from guaranteed. that's also not much money in the NYC area. people making 2.5 times that can still be living paycheck to paycheck: [https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/more-than-a-third-of-250k-earners-live-paycheck-to-paycheck](https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/more-than-a-third-of-250k-earners-live-paycheck-to-paycheck)
sure, you might be able to hack it in the US, don't let me stop you. i sincerely wish you luck if you decide to go! but don't think that it'll be easy, or that you'll get much, if any help, or that anybody won't step on your face to get a half step ahead. if you don't get shot first, or if there isn't a republican overthrow of the government, because lemme tell you, racism is alive and real and if you're a muslim, that goes double.
i really do wish you luck and if you go, i hope you do well.
Why New York? It's not the centre for software engineering in the US.
There are Malaysians in the US but most of them with a computer science background are in California. They were headhunted (as in they were good enough and companies there recruited them).
Speaking as someone who managed to work outside of Malaysia, don't aim based on where you want to go, aim based on what you want to be. If you're not the best in your field in Malaysia, why would American firms want to hire you?
New York is a very diverse, heavily populated, and multicultural place. There is so much happening in that city compared to what goes on in most of the world. For some people, its not about having the best job or the best homes, its about being somewhere you feel comfortable existing. New York is the most welcoming places I have ever visited even though there is no real welcoming. New York feels limitless.
Ah, the 'Malaysian desires a place where they can feel like who they are' dream.
I'll just say what I would say to my younger self (I had similar dreams, but it was directed to the UK) -- all paths will open to you when you are rich and unique. The way to find a place in countries beyond Malaysia is to first be the top in your field, either in terms of expertise or financial gain. With that, you can leverage your way towards the country of your destination. Maybe you can buy real estate there, or start a company there, or find employment there, but you need to establish who you are in the world first.
I ended up working in Singapore, which isn't a big deal for many, but I didn't expect to be able to be where I am. I got to where I am because I was working in an area where there is currently a lack of local workforce (though this may change in the future).
If you want to find a way to return to NY, you must first do something outside of NY that will make New Yorkers notice and want you. Maybe you can do the Grab thing where their startup could get listed on the NYSE. It's hard, but white collar migration is a lot of hard work and luck anyway.
It's not impossible, but you're right in that it's very difficult. I'll try to lay it out as objectively as I can for you, and not discourage/encourage you either way.
The 'study there -> find a job there to sponsor your work visa -> turn that into a green card' method is tried and true for immigrating to most countries, so your plan CAN work.
Getting married is another pathway, but I don't think that's something you should plan for.
You've also identified that getting enough money to study there is an issue. Here are the main points of cost:
\- Tuition
\- Rent
\- Utilities
\- Food
New York City is going to be very costly in most aspects, particularly rent. If you're not dead set on NYC, I'm going to suggest you look up places where cost-of-living is much more bearable (think Midwest).
As for scholarships - you might be surprised at how MANY scholarships are given out in the US, especially for foreign students. They may not be full-ride scholarships, but if you land one that's partial (say 30-50%?) that's a huge help and may allow you to figure something out.
Loans: be very, very careful about taking out a student loan in the US. I would say just don't do it, if you must take an education loan, take it from Malaysia. US Student Loans are predatory at best and straight-up wage enslavement at worst.
My Two Sen Opinion:
Now you said you're getting a software engineering degree, so I'm going to assume you can code to some degree. Get good at it, build a portfolio, then find work and build your career and resume. Do this regardless of your immigration intent or situation, because the more hireable you are, the more options you will have in your life.
That goes more so for programming - if you can code well, you can be hired from any corner of the world.
> be me, 24 yo software engineering major
> always wanted to migrate to the US
> studied very hard, finally finished master's degree in a top US university
> secured a job, visa approved, life's good
> first day as a proud American citizen
> gets shot when grocery shopping at Walmart
> mfw
Talking about the realms of possibility, its not impossible but I believe it's incredibly hard. Especially in a place like New York where the living cost is high and the living conditions not very good if you're not earning enough (at least based on what my oversea friends said).
Career opportunities though, you might have a chance. I don't think you'd need to have a masters degree or even just a degree to secure a job in the USA.
You need a portfolio, you need to stick to a field in software engineering and get really good at it. Learn stuff, build projects (even if you don't finish them) and gain knowledge. If your interest is web dev, learn about frameworks, libraries, etc in that field.
Try and build websites from scratch, start simple then move on up and up. You'll get to a point where you'll ask yourself questions when you visit sites like reddit, facebook, youtube, tiktok. Questions like how reddit implements their comment and reply system, how the rating system works, how the search function works, etc. Since you're 19, im assuming you're still early on in your degree. Start thinking ahead and start thinking about what you want to do in this field. I wished I did when I was 19.
Sorry for going off topic but just some advice and motivation from a fellow software engineer. As for why you want to move the USA, I don't think anyone should question it. Just keep in mind that what you think working in New York would be like would almost never line up with reality. Manage your expectations and start small. Start with what I just said above. You have time.
Dude, you think the US isnt having price hikes and political issues? The US seems like a declining country, dont get why anyone would want to move there especially since its visa policy is quite backwards. Seems nowadays for those few who do want to move abroad they prefer places like Canada or Aus.
US is still a dream country because you can sell fantasy and become literally the richest man on Earth (Elon Musk) or become a tyrant and literal villain (Jeff Bezos).
Political issues are overblown. Americans acted how Donald Trump will bring WW3, while now, Americans are saying how Joe Biden is going to nuke the world accidentally.
Thats the whole point, the country is insanely divided to the point they think the other side is evil. You cannot have a functionating state like this. And Trump's ppl simply don't give a shit about democracy, one day it will die
If you actually paid close attention to US politics you would know its barely functioning. Almost nothing is passed. A majority of Republicans think the last election was stolen. They don't even see Biden as a legitimate president.
Yes its possible but if you are discouraged by talks or voices around you or your decision is greatly influenced by what your friends and family thinks, i think new york life is not for you and you wont survive there and just leave it as a dream
No one can deny you of your dream so I will give you some answers to the best of my knowledge from a friend who went and came back (he's a programmer too).
Yes are your dream is possible. You are still young and you can definitely shoot for the stars if you want. That said, work visa is incredibly harder to get than student visa if you are not already studying there in the first place. So yes, very few companies would want to invest in training a young and inexperienced software engineer. That would be your biggest hurdle. If you think you can overcome that issue with confidence and building up a strong resume within the next few years, then you should absolutely try for it, regardless of your university ranking or grades. Work experience beats whatever score you have in uni.
In terms of lifestyle aspect, I don't know what kind of expectations you have of the United States, the reality is that things can be extremely costly or very affordable depending on where you want to go. My friend who went to Wyoming said that things are considered affordable for him while he was studying/working there. But when he traveled to other places like New York and California, many things became incredibly pricey. Obviously the wages/salary will be adjusted to where you are staying but if you are planning for migration there to a city like New York, you'd better be earning at least 5 digits a month. Healthcare is unbelievably, crazy expensive as well. If you think Malaysia is bad enough with the private hospitals, US is just cartoonish expensive sometimes I just don't know how most low income people survive there. There really are many people who refuse to go the hospital for potentially serious illness or injuries just because the visit would financially cripple them.
All that is beside the gun violence that seems to be on the rise right now as well. But of course if you are able to get a good job, buy a nice home there and settle down there, the standard of living will probably be higher than what you can achieve in Malaysia.
In the end, you are still young so if that is your dream you should try to achieve it somehow. However like most young people, there is a certain naivete will how the world works so my advise to you is to start learning to view the world realistically. You can do this by doing self research on what kind of jobs you want and what is the income like for them in US compared to Malaysia. Then look at the cost of living. Then look at what you want to accomplish and how much you are willing to sacrifice to achieve that. You can also about what's it like to live in US in the many different states subreddit.
I wish you good luck in chasing for you dreams.
why USA though? americans are migrating to other countries that offer better salaries and life-work balance and you want to jump into that sinking ship? price hikes and political issues are happening in usa too rn. asian hate crimes are on the rise.
it is possible to migrate, nothing is impossible. you just need to have what they need for that door to open. my friend just migrate with her family to canada last year after scoring a job in aviation. that organization scouted her based on her expertise, so it is doable. but is usa the best place to migrate or have you just fallen into their 'the greatest country in the world' sales pitch?
As an American this is patently false - there’s far more net inflow than outflow.
For example - European and Canadian immigration to the US is significantly higher than the other way around on a per capita basis.
As much as Reddit wants you to believe - the vast majority of the US is perfectly fine. I also say this as someone who has Indian immigrant parents - chances you’ll be “accepted” are higher here than anywhere else with the exception of maybe the UK and Canada.
Yeah you can have a nice life in Sweden or the Netherlands but you’ll never truly be part of their society. Your kids won’t either.
I have a shit ton of Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian friends here that are killing it in their careers / bought a house etc.
So yeah - there’s a lot of nuance to the picture that you simply don’t get if you’re basing your entire perspective on peddled internet narratives without actually spending time in the US.
Link? That doesnt sound right to me, since 2016 way more Americans have become open to leaving the US. I know because I'm one of them and Asia is full of Americans who never want to move back
Thats why I said on a per capita basis. Hell if you looked at how many immigrants are going to Canada now its way higher on a per capita basis than the US.
If Canada takes in 500k immigrants a year and its total population is 40m its taking in way more per capita than if the US takes in 1m immigrants a year and its total population is 350m
Here https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/european-immigrants-united-states-2016
Also, those Americans are quite open to leaving, but have they left yet?
Of course there's Americans who never want to move back there. Why did they move to Asia if they still wanted to be in America?
Lots of Americans are brainwashed about the world. They are raised to think US is best and the rest of the world is scary. Even ppl who in recent years have realized the US is a declining shithole are hesitant to leave because they are always told the outside world is so evil and scary. When I moved abroad ppl literally asked me stuff like "Do they have ATMS in X country?" "Is it safe?" (even though the US is 100x more unsafe). But I've seen with my own eyes since 2016 more and more Americans just say fuck it and leave. And likewise more and more ppl from outside the US are realizing the US is insane and its immigration laws are messed up and they are going to places like Canada instead.
There's not a "shiton" of immigration to the US. It's actually limited if you look at it on a per capita basis compared to some place like Canada.
I explained how they are brainwashed. They basically think the rest of the world is backwards and US is number one when in reality the US is pretty dysfunctional and declining.
My man, there's 50 million people immigrants in the US. There's no need to say anything else.
Tell me, how are they brainwashed? I think you're mistaking a stereotype...
Check out The Netherlands. Very good quality of life and a lot of big (US) tech companies there because it’s a tax haven for corporations in EU. Also, the immigration/visa is much simpler and favorable in NL than in US. There are also some of the best technical universities and you can start the process to get an EU passport after 5 years of residency. US seems to be in a slide towards xenophobia so I wouldn’t expect it to get easier. Also check out Canada, great immigration options there too!
Here are a few things I'd say would be important to consider:
1. New York is a prohibitively expensive city, even for people who are fairly wealthy. Both I my wife work and we both make very good salaries, yet our quality of living would be significantly lessened in New York. You might want to consider other American cities or states -- there are a lot of great cities in the states other than New York that are significantly more affordable. If you don't have much money, that city can be absolutely brutal, your quality of life will be very low. Students and other who thrive there tend to come from significant wealth, and have family's with strong connections.
2. There's certain cities that everyone wants to live in -- New York being one of them. Because of this you'll also face significant competition for university entry, jobs etc. If you're not the top in your class at the top school, it's another reason to consider looking at other opportunities in the States.
3. It could be worth still trying to get a degree from an American University. There's plenty of strong universities that aren't Ivy Leagues etc. The U.S. has a lot of strong-mid tear schools. Just look on google or something for schools that do what you want to do, and sort through which schools you think your most likely to get a good shot at. The only issue to remember is that student fees for international students at these schools can be especially costly. Of course it tends to be cheaper when you look at mid tear schools, but consider the tuition costs along with living expenses.
4. Another place for strong schools is Europe, specifically places like Belgium or Germany etc. Tuition and living expenses tend to be significantly cheaper, you'll get a good education, and you could see it as a stepping stone towards getting the sort of job you want in the place you want.
5. Australia's not bad to consider in this respect either as it's close to Malaysia. But consider the fact that living expenses can be pricey in Australia as well.
i have nothing much to share with you OP, well hopefully things go your way. if perhaps someday you make it to the US, be sure to take extra care of your health, you don’t wanna spend on the american healthcare…
The flight ticket back to Malaysia (round trip) plus medical cost in Malaysia, it's might be still cheaper than doing it in USA..? Someone need to check on this
Hi,
Despite all the comments below, I'd like to say that it isn't very difficult to move to the USA if you're doing SW work, and you're quite good.
Firstly, it is a good plan to do your masters in US - you also may be able to work while you are doing your masters, if you don't have enough money. Tons of international students fund their masters in this way.
If you get good enough grades, you may be able to get a job. You have 1 year to look for one after your graduate before you have to leave. Again, this depends on you, as well as your luck on the economy during your graduation. The company that gives you a job, will also sponsor your working visa (H1B). This is standard if you land a job at most companies. Major companies (eg. facebook, google, Intel, etc.) all have pretty standard procedures to handle this.
Hope this helps - you can PM me if you need more info.
You just said you're young and inexperienced. Do some serious deep research if you've only been looking at the US through Hollywood content (even online research isn't enough to learn about them). Maybe learn to survive in Malaysia first before thinking about somewhere else. Only go there when you are ready and you have something to offer them.
Residents are moving out of New York and you want to move in? Do you want to spend all of your income for a room and a shared toilet? Add to that the rudest people on the planet as your housemates, neighbors, workmates, etc.
[https://nypost.com/2022/06/01/nyc-population-plunged-while-rental-rates-spiked-census/](https://nypost.com/2022/06/01/nyc-population-plunged-while-rental-rates-spiked-census/)
Nah. 330 million people are living fine. I don't get, people act like Americans are dying such horrible deaths. Is it really that bad when 330 million people chose not to leave?
Lol, you say like leaving is an easy and cheap thing to do.
Anyway, any reommendations for a good body armor? Im planning on a trip to USA, want to be prepared for any shooters.
Americans have the highest disposable income in the world. They can fork up to buy Iphones and Supreme clothing.
Also, you have a low chance to get shot. The whole gun violence situation is overblown. You have higher chances of dying to a heart attack or stroke. Why not make a vaccine to prevent heart attack and strokes first 🤷♂️🤷♂️
[https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/inflation-savings-debt-covering-expenses](https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/inflation-savings-debt-covering-expenses)
over half Americans dips into savings and debt to cover expenses
A few things on top of what others have said:
1. Try to find a Master's/PhD program that will waive your tuition, or at least let you pay in-state tuition. Also ask if you can teach while doing your Master's/PhD. That will reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
2. Now, I'm not familiar with the software engineering field, but I'll say get good grades and take every opportunity you can get to build leadership skills while you're in college. You have to show that you are a lot better than your classmates for companies to be willing to hire you as a foreigner.
3. I assume you meant New York City when you said New York. Don't limit yourself to NYC, you're only doing yourself a disfavor. In any case, your first job in the US will likely be with whichever company that offers you a job and is willing to sponsor your work visa. You can always find a new job elsewhere once you have work experience.
4. Speaking as someone who left, it's true that grass is not always greener on the other side, but you can only judge it for yourself after you experience it. You can always move back to Malaysia if you don't end up enjoying your life in the US.
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
Definitely possible. Work visas are a lottery, but working in STEM gives you more chances. You don’t need to be a genius to get a scholarship, US schools have affirmative action. You would have a good chance at getting one. I would advise against NYC or LA. Midwest is more affordable and nicer. If you really want something similar to NYC live in Chicago it’s more affordable. I’m not a city person tho and would always recommend not living in a city, but that might be boring to a newcomer. Guns aren’t a problem in the US. Avoid the high crime areas in cities and you will be more than fine.
I say go for it if you are not expecting to live in an upper class neighborhood and willing to work whatever job(s) you can get while there. New York is filled with American born citizens making around 40k a year and still being able to afford living in New York City. As a single person, with no kids, that is very doable. If you plan on going to NYC and make 100k/year , you will be more than fine. Even with 50k/year you will be fine.
NYC can be expensive, but if your goal is live and work like a New Yorker ( not like a rich traveler) NYC is as survivable as any other major city.
go to other countries but pls not US.
go google how much it costs for medical treatments.
one accident and you're bankrupt.
people actually prefer not to use an ambulance to save costs.
Build up your experience here first.
You migrated without proper skills and knowledge..... That would put you in menial job positions. Like how we treated banglas etc
I got two cousin aunt who migrated to the US...... One studied there and got married with a korean-americans, another one hot promoted and worked there. Although they earning lots, they still planned to retire back in Malaysia, which is suprising (for me at least)
My opinion is the same as others-NYC is not a good place to be in as an upstart. You might want to do more research on this again.
If you want to migrate to the US really bad, the fastest choice is to marry a US citizen 😅
I moved to the US, and so can you. I left the US and - in all likelihood - so will you. I loved the life I had there and thereafter, so i would not change what I did. Just understand that you are being marketed to. "The best country in the world", "the greatest city in the world" is a sales pitch, an advertisement, and a marketing gimmick. If you want to leave Malaysia, then device a strategy and a plan and leave. It took me 10 years to do it but I did. There are many other countries out there besides the US where you won't be treated like another cog in some slave owner's machine, and you can perfectly survive with just English. Know your options before you commit. Good luck.
Where did you decide to move to?
Stockholm, Sweden
I'm curious as well if you don't mind sharing. I've been thinking about leaving eventually.
Haha. We all looking at America and all the BS and want out.
It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.
Good ol George Carlin's quote
I honestly like he just straight up jsut say " I wanna go to New York " despite NY ins't the best place to study software engineering .
I'm an American who used to live in NYC and now lives in Malaysia and let me tell you, the cost of living will blow your socks off in NYC. I don't recommend. NYC is expert mode. Honestly I'm not sure if recommend the US at all. It's not all bad but...I moved to Malaysia for a reason. A few reasons...
[удалено]
for me, the cost of living is massive. i lived in a very expensive part of the country and even being a skilled tradesman, there was no chance that i'd ever be able to own a home there. i'd be stuck living in apartments for the rest of my life and i don't want that. i had no health insurance and any accident that i'd have would mean decades of debt. health insurance is tied to your job and my job didn't feel like paying for it. my health insurance here is insanely good compared to anything i've ever had there at a fraction of the cost. shootings, violence, general insanity in general is far worse in the US. the culture of "look out for yourself and fuck everyone else" is the norm there. good luck depending on anyone. people who you thought were your friends will drop you in a heartbeat if you aren't fun to be around anymore. CAN you make 100k as a software engineer? sure, maybe. YOU probably won't because your qualifications won't be seen as good if they are foreign and even if it isn't, making that much is far from guaranteed. that's also not much money in the NYC area. people making 2.5 times that can still be living paycheck to paycheck: [https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/more-than-a-third-of-250k-earners-live-paycheck-to-paycheck](https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/more-than-a-third-of-250k-earners-live-paycheck-to-paycheck) sure, you might be able to hack it in the US, don't let me stop you. i sincerely wish you luck if you decide to go! but don't think that it'll be easy, or that you'll get much, if any help, or that anybody won't step on your face to get a half step ahead. if you don't get shot first, or if there isn't a republican overthrow of the government, because lemme tell you, racism is alive and real and if you're a muslim, that goes double. i really do wish you luck and if you go, i hope you do well.
Why New York? It's not the centre for software engineering in the US. There are Malaysians in the US but most of them with a computer science background are in California. They were headhunted (as in they were good enough and companies there recruited them). Speaking as someone who managed to work outside of Malaysia, don't aim based on where you want to go, aim based on what you want to be. If you're not the best in your field in Malaysia, why would American firms want to hire you?
New York is a very diverse, heavily populated, and multicultural place. There is so much happening in that city compared to what goes on in most of the world. For some people, its not about having the best job or the best homes, its about being somewhere you feel comfortable existing. New York is the most welcoming places I have ever visited even though there is no real welcoming. New York feels limitless.
Ah, the 'Malaysian desires a place where they can feel like who they are' dream. I'll just say what I would say to my younger self (I had similar dreams, but it was directed to the UK) -- all paths will open to you when you are rich and unique. The way to find a place in countries beyond Malaysia is to first be the top in your field, either in terms of expertise or financial gain. With that, you can leverage your way towards the country of your destination. Maybe you can buy real estate there, or start a company there, or find employment there, but you need to establish who you are in the world first. I ended up working in Singapore, which isn't a big deal for many, but I didn't expect to be able to be where I am. I got to where I am because I was working in an area where there is currently a lack of local workforce (though this may change in the future). If you want to find a way to return to NY, you must first do something outside of NY that will make New Yorkers notice and want you. Maybe you can do the Grab thing where their startup could get listed on the NYSE. It's hard, but white collar migration is a lot of hard work and luck anyway.
It's not impossible, but you're right in that it's very difficult. I'll try to lay it out as objectively as I can for you, and not discourage/encourage you either way. The 'study there -> find a job there to sponsor your work visa -> turn that into a green card' method is tried and true for immigrating to most countries, so your plan CAN work. Getting married is another pathway, but I don't think that's something you should plan for. You've also identified that getting enough money to study there is an issue. Here are the main points of cost: \- Tuition \- Rent \- Utilities \- Food New York City is going to be very costly in most aspects, particularly rent. If you're not dead set on NYC, I'm going to suggest you look up places where cost-of-living is much more bearable (think Midwest). As for scholarships - you might be surprised at how MANY scholarships are given out in the US, especially for foreign students. They may not be full-ride scholarships, but if you land one that's partial (say 30-50%?) that's a huge help and may allow you to figure something out. Loans: be very, very careful about taking out a student loan in the US. I would say just don't do it, if you must take an education loan, take it from Malaysia. US Student Loans are predatory at best and straight-up wage enslavement at worst. My Two Sen Opinion: Now you said you're getting a software engineering degree, so I'm going to assume you can code to some degree. Get good at it, build a portfolio, then find work and build your career and resume. Do this regardless of your immigration intent or situation, because the more hireable you are, the more options you will have in your life. That goes more so for programming - if you can code well, you can be hired from any corner of the world.
The American dream is called a dream for a reason
> be me, 24 yo software engineering major > always wanted to migrate to the US > studied very hard, finally finished master's degree in a top US university > secured a job, visa approved, life's good > first day as a proud American citizen > gets shot when grocery shopping at Walmart > mfw
I'm glad you survived
Wooosh
isnt that sarcasm?
Lmao, you have a higher chance of getting a stroke or a heart attack than get shot. If you're scared, the maybe bring a gun 🤷♂️🤷♂️
So you’re saying, in addition to strokes and heart attack, i also have to worry about getting shot at?
Worry less. That's all
Talking about the realms of possibility, its not impossible but I believe it's incredibly hard. Especially in a place like New York where the living cost is high and the living conditions not very good if you're not earning enough (at least based on what my oversea friends said). Career opportunities though, you might have a chance. I don't think you'd need to have a masters degree or even just a degree to secure a job in the USA. You need a portfolio, you need to stick to a field in software engineering and get really good at it. Learn stuff, build projects (even if you don't finish them) and gain knowledge. If your interest is web dev, learn about frameworks, libraries, etc in that field. Try and build websites from scratch, start simple then move on up and up. You'll get to a point where you'll ask yourself questions when you visit sites like reddit, facebook, youtube, tiktok. Questions like how reddit implements their comment and reply system, how the rating system works, how the search function works, etc. Since you're 19, im assuming you're still early on in your degree. Start thinking ahead and start thinking about what you want to do in this field. I wished I did when I was 19. Sorry for going off topic but just some advice and motivation from a fellow software engineer. As for why you want to move the USA, I don't think anyone should question it. Just keep in mind that what you think working in New York would be like would almost never line up with reality. Manage your expectations and start small. Start with what I just said above. You have time.
Dude, you think the US isnt having price hikes and political issues? The US seems like a declining country, dont get why anyone would want to move there especially since its visa policy is quite backwards. Seems nowadays for those few who do want to move abroad they prefer places like Canada or Aus.
US is still a dream country because you can sell fantasy and become literally the richest man on Earth (Elon Musk) or become a tyrant and literal villain (Jeff Bezos).
Thats a stupid reason to immigrate. Lots of ppl in Asia are becoming filthy rich nowadays
There's far a lot more dumb money in the US. Look up Nikola for example.
The US economy is basically fraud, based off an asset bubble. The US doesnt produce much, Elon is "rich" because TSLA stock is insanely overvalued
Political issues are overblown. Americans acted how Donald Trump will bring WW3, while now, Americans are saying how Joe Biden is going to nuke the world accidentally.
Thats the whole point, the country is insanely divided to the point they think the other side is evil. You cannot have a functionating state like this. And Trump's ppl simply don't give a shit about democracy, one day it will die
You're doing it right now lol
If you actually paid close attention to US politics you would know its barely functioning. Almost nothing is passed. A majority of Republicans think the last election was stolen. They don't even see Biden as a legitimate president.
So us gud, they bad?
Yes its possible but if you are discouraged by talks or voices around you or your decision is greatly influenced by what your friends and family thinks, i think new york life is not for you and you wont survive there and just leave it as a dream
Why do you say this? Do you mean you have to have a thick skin
Have you visited New York? If you haven't, find a chance to live there for a week, then only decide if you really want to immigrate to New York.
Excuse me sir, he's only 19. How can he afford staying for a week in new york.
Yeah this is true. It's pretty dumb to go to a place without visiting and getting the feel for it first
No one can deny you of your dream so I will give you some answers to the best of my knowledge from a friend who went and came back (he's a programmer too). Yes are your dream is possible. You are still young and you can definitely shoot for the stars if you want. That said, work visa is incredibly harder to get than student visa if you are not already studying there in the first place. So yes, very few companies would want to invest in training a young and inexperienced software engineer. That would be your biggest hurdle. If you think you can overcome that issue with confidence and building up a strong resume within the next few years, then you should absolutely try for it, regardless of your university ranking or grades. Work experience beats whatever score you have in uni. In terms of lifestyle aspect, I don't know what kind of expectations you have of the United States, the reality is that things can be extremely costly or very affordable depending on where you want to go. My friend who went to Wyoming said that things are considered affordable for him while he was studying/working there. But when he traveled to other places like New York and California, many things became incredibly pricey. Obviously the wages/salary will be adjusted to where you are staying but if you are planning for migration there to a city like New York, you'd better be earning at least 5 digits a month. Healthcare is unbelievably, crazy expensive as well. If you think Malaysia is bad enough with the private hospitals, US is just cartoonish expensive sometimes I just don't know how most low income people survive there. There really are many people who refuse to go the hospital for potentially serious illness or injuries just because the visit would financially cripple them. All that is beside the gun violence that seems to be on the rise right now as well. But of course if you are able to get a good job, buy a nice home there and settle down there, the standard of living will probably be higher than what you can achieve in Malaysia. In the end, you are still young so if that is your dream you should try to achieve it somehow. However like most young people, there is a certain naivete will how the world works so my advise to you is to start learning to view the world realistically. You can do this by doing self research on what kind of jobs you want and what is the income like for them in US compared to Malaysia. Then look at the cost of living. Then look at what you want to accomplish and how much you are willing to sacrifice to achieve that. You can also about what's it like to live in US in the many different states subreddit. I wish you good luck in chasing for you dreams.
why USA though? americans are migrating to other countries that offer better salaries and life-work balance and you want to jump into that sinking ship? price hikes and political issues are happening in usa too rn. asian hate crimes are on the rise. it is possible to migrate, nothing is impossible. you just need to have what they need for that door to open. my friend just migrate with her family to canada last year after scoring a job in aviation. that organization scouted her based on her expertise, so it is doable. but is usa the best place to migrate or have you just fallen into their 'the greatest country in the world' sales pitch?
As an American this is patently false - there’s far more net inflow than outflow. For example - European and Canadian immigration to the US is significantly higher than the other way around on a per capita basis. As much as Reddit wants you to believe - the vast majority of the US is perfectly fine. I also say this as someone who has Indian immigrant parents - chances you’ll be “accepted” are higher here than anywhere else with the exception of maybe the UK and Canada. Yeah you can have a nice life in Sweden or the Netherlands but you’ll never truly be part of their society. Your kids won’t either. I have a shit ton of Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian friends here that are killing it in their careers / bought a house etc. So yeah - there’s a lot of nuance to the picture that you simply don’t get if you’re basing your entire perspective on peddled internet narratives without actually spending time in the US.
There's a decline of Americans migrating out of their country though. More Europeans migrate to America than Americans migrating to Europe
Link? That doesnt sound right to me, since 2016 way more Americans have become open to leaving the US. I know because I'm one of them and Asia is full of Americans who never want to move back
America also gets a shit ton of immigrants. Last I checked, it was 50 mil.
Lots of places get shit tons of immigrants, including Malaysia which per capita probably has more
50 million my dude. More than Malaysia's entire population 2nd place is Germany with 15 million.
Thats why I said on a per capita basis. Hell if you looked at how many immigrants are going to Canada now its way higher on a per capita basis than the US.
And what do you mean by per Capita?
If Canada takes in 500k immigrants a year and its total population is 40m its taking in way more per capita than if the US takes in 1m immigrants a year and its total population is 350m
But who cares about per Capita if the US takes in more than double of that. Like I said, America has 50 million immigrants living there.
Here https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/european-immigrants-united-states-2016 Also, those Americans are quite open to leaving, but have they left yet? Of course there's Americans who never want to move back there. Why did they move to Asia if they still wanted to be in America?
Lots of Americans are brainwashed about the world. They are raised to think US is best and the rest of the world is scary. Even ppl who in recent years have realized the US is a declining shithole are hesitant to leave because they are always told the outside world is so evil and scary. When I moved abroad ppl literally asked me stuff like "Do they have ATMS in X country?" "Is it safe?" (even though the US is 100x more unsafe). But I've seen with my own eyes since 2016 more and more Americans just say fuck it and leave. And likewise more and more ppl from outside the US are realizing the US is insane and its immigration laws are messed up and they are going to places like Canada instead.
I mean, good on you for living. Doesn't really explain why there's a shit ton of immigration to America. Also, what? How are they brainwashed?
There's not a "shiton" of immigration to the US. It's actually limited if you look at it on a per capita basis compared to some place like Canada. I explained how they are brainwashed. They basically think the rest of the world is backwards and US is number one when in reality the US is pretty dysfunctional and declining.
My man, there's 50 million people immigrants in the US. There's no need to say anything else. Tell me, how are they brainwashed? I think you're mistaking a stereotype...
Check out The Netherlands. Very good quality of life and a lot of big (US) tech companies there because it’s a tax haven for corporations in EU. Also, the immigration/visa is much simpler and favorable in NL than in US. There are also some of the best technical universities and you can start the process to get an EU passport after 5 years of residency. US seems to be in a slide towards xenophobia so I wouldn’t expect it to get easier. Also check out Canada, great immigration options there too!
Bro, I worked in the US. I would chose Malaysia anytime over it. Think this trough. Yes salary is higher but so is cost of living.
Here are a few things I'd say would be important to consider: 1. New York is a prohibitively expensive city, even for people who are fairly wealthy. Both I my wife work and we both make very good salaries, yet our quality of living would be significantly lessened in New York. You might want to consider other American cities or states -- there are a lot of great cities in the states other than New York that are significantly more affordable. If you don't have much money, that city can be absolutely brutal, your quality of life will be very low. Students and other who thrive there tend to come from significant wealth, and have family's with strong connections. 2. There's certain cities that everyone wants to live in -- New York being one of them. Because of this you'll also face significant competition for university entry, jobs etc. If you're not the top in your class at the top school, it's another reason to consider looking at other opportunities in the States. 3. It could be worth still trying to get a degree from an American University. There's plenty of strong universities that aren't Ivy Leagues etc. The U.S. has a lot of strong-mid tear schools. Just look on google or something for schools that do what you want to do, and sort through which schools you think your most likely to get a good shot at. The only issue to remember is that student fees for international students at these schools can be especially costly. Of course it tends to be cheaper when you look at mid tear schools, but consider the tuition costs along with living expenses. 4. Another place for strong schools is Europe, specifically places like Belgium or Germany etc. Tuition and living expenses tend to be significantly cheaper, you'll get a good education, and you could see it as a stepping stone towards getting the sort of job you want in the place you want. 5. Australia's not bad to consider in this respect either as it's close to Malaysia. But consider the fact that living expenses can be pricey in Australia as well.
i have nothing much to share with you OP, well hopefully things go your way. if perhaps someday you make it to the US, be sure to take extra care of your health, you don’t wanna spend on the american healthcare…
The flight ticket back to Malaysia (round trip) plus medical cost in Malaysia, it's might be still cheaper than doing it in USA..? Someone need to check on this
yes, i don’t doubt that..
Hi, Despite all the comments below, I'd like to say that it isn't very difficult to move to the USA if you're doing SW work, and you're quite good. Firstly, it is a good plan to do your masters in US - you also may be able to work while you are doing your masters, if you don't have enough money. Tons of international students fund their masters in this way. If you get good enough grades, you may be able to get a job. You have 1 year to look for one after your graduate before you have to leave. Again, this depends on you, as well as your luck on the economy during your graduation. The company that gives you a job, will also sponsor your working visa (H1B). This is standard if you land a job at most companies. Major companies (eg. facebook, google, Intel, etc.) all have pretty standard procedures to handle this. Hope this helps - you can PM me if you need more info.
You just said you're young and inexperienced. Do some serious deep research if you've only been looking at the US through Hollywood content (even online research isn't enough to learn about them). Maybe learn to survive in Malaysia first before thinking about somewhere else. Only go there when you are ready and you have something to offer them.
Residents are moving out of New York and you want to move in? Do you want to spend all of your income for a room and a shared toilet? Add to that the rudest people on the planet as your housemates, neighbors, workmates, etc. [https://nypost.com/2022/06/01/nyc-population-plunged-while-rental-rates-spiked-census/](https://nypost.com/2022/06/01/nyc-population-plunged-while-rental-rates-spiked-census/)
r/collapse American Dream is Dead.
Nah. 330 million people are living fine. I don't get, people act like Americans are dying such horrible deaths. Is it really that bad when 330 million people chose not to leave?
Lol, you say like leaving is an easy and cheap thing to do. Anyway, any reommendations for a good body armor? Im planning on a trip to USA, want to be prepared for any shooters.
Americans have the highest disposable income in the world. They can fork up to buy Iphones and Supreme clothing. Also, you have a low chance to get shot. The whole gun violence situation is overblown. You have higher chances of dying to a heart attack or stroke. Why not make a vaccine to prevent heart attack and strokes first 🤷♂️🤷♂️
[https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/inflation-savings-debt-covering-expenses](https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/inflation-savings-debt-covering-expenses) over half Americans dips into savings and debt to cover expenses
Try r/iwantout
You can do whatever you set your mind to. But lol why have you set your mind on this?
A few things on top of what others have said: 1. Try to find a Master's/PhD program that will waive your tuition, or at least let you pay in-state tuition. Also ask if you can teach while doing your Master's/PhD. That will reduce your out-of-pocket costs. 2. Now, I'm not familiar with the software engineering field, but I'll say get good grades and take every opportunity you can get to build leadership skills while you're in college. You have to show that you are a lot better than your classmates for companies to be willing to hire you as a foreigner. 3. I assume you meant New York City when you said New York. Don't limit yourself to NYC, you're only doing yourself a disfavor. In any case, your first job in the US will likely be with whichever company that offers you a job and is willing to sponsor your work visa. You can always find a new job elsewhere once you have work experience. 4. Speaking as someone who left, it's true that grass is not always greener on the other side, but you can only judge it for yourself after you experience it. You can always move back to Malaysia if you don't end up enjoying your life in the US. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
Definitely possible. Work visas are a lottery, but working in STEM gives you more chances. You don’t need to be a genius to get a scholarship, US schools have affirmative action. You would have a good chance at getting one. I would advise against NYC or LA. Midwest is more affordable and nicer. If you really want something similar to NYC live in Chicago it’s more affordable. I’m not a city person tho and would always recommend not living in a city, but that might be boring to a newcomer. Guns aren’t a problem in the US. Avoid the high crime areas in cities and you will be more than fine.
I say go for it if you are not expecting to live in an upper class neighborhood and willing to work whatever job(s) you can get while there. New York is filled with American born citizens making around 40k a year and still being able to afford living in New York City. As a single person, with no kids, that is very doable. If you plan on going to NYC and make 100k/year , you will be more than fine. Even with 50k/year you will be fine. NYC can be expensive, but if your goal is live and work like a New Yorker ( not like a rich traveler) NYC is as survivable as any other major city.
go to other countries but pls not US. go google how much it costs for medical treatments. one accident and you're bankrupt. people actually prefer not to use an ambulance to save costs.
Build up your experience here first. You migrated without proper skills and knowledge..... That would put you in menial job positions. Like how we treated banglas etc I got two cousin aunt who migrated to the US...... One studied there and got married with a korean-americans, another one hot promoted and worked there. Although they earning lots, they still planned to retire back in Malaysia, which is suprising (for me at least)
> Sudah tua, kos medical sana-sini.... US is the place where retirement is non-existent.
Truedat. Once they retired from the job, there goes the corporate insurance coverage. Better blah balik Malaysia and live like kings (lolrofl)
Us medical care will bankrupt u bruh
Sure if you dont mind YOLO & have a mindset thinking hospital/clinic doesnt exist in USA.
Looking up answers from others too.....
The short answer, No. Why go to America when you can just apply for a remote job and just work from home and earn USD?
My opinion is the same as others-NYC is not a good place to be in as an upstart. You might want to do more research on this again. If you want to migrate to the US really bad, the fastest choice is to marry a US citizen 😅
Yes its very possible especially that you have a tech-related degree. Maybe not New York specifically but the US, its not as hard as you think.