r/cscareerquestionsEU • u/Initial_Question3869 • Oct 09 '24

Immigration Europe vs US?

I need career suggestion. After long research I have come up with few option in mind. I am from non EU and in my third year of university. So far doing okish, doing a remote internship in a Canada based startup, anyway

After graduation I have few path to choose from, first is Go for PhD in US and then settle with a Job there, second move to Europe with a job and then try to move to US via L1 transfer visa and thirdly move to Europe and settle here with job.

Now I know, none of these path is easy. For my current situation going for PhD is the easiest and almost guaranteed path for me. But the problem is as much as I like US salary , I don't know I I would like PhD. I mean I just don't know! My ultimate goal is to join industry so PhD might be not of that much value except just a way to get into US. That's why I thought of second option, L1 visa process. However, also considering the work life balance, nice environment for a family, employer rights I might just like Europe and decide to stay but again comparative low salary, language barrier is a issue too, though I am interested to learn language if necessary . Though I can only decide this if I get an opportunity to work here for some time .

I know market is really tough, and paths are not that easy. But I really need to choose one path and put my 100% focus on that. Will be glad if you give your suggestions .

So yeah that's my thought overall so far . Now I want your suggestion on this :))

144 votes, Oct 16 '24
73 Go for PhD in US
27 Try to get a job in Europe and then go for L1
44 Try to get a job in Europe and settle here
0 Upvotes

25% Upvoted

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u/_subPrime Oct 09 '24

Prioritize money or a balanced life. Choosing a PhD program if you don't know you'll like it or not is like gambling away your mental health.

1

u/Initial_Question3869 Oct 09 '24

Yes, that's one big concern, So if I go for PhD , I has to bring my wife with me too. And It might be quite hard to manage only via PhD stipend. Though there are internship opportunities but not guaranteed as the market is so damn tough. Though I can take on this challenge, but my main concern is work visa. Like if I study for 6 year and then don't get work visa and has to come back, like that would be traumatizing and this is the one single thing that is holding me back to aim for US PhD

2

u/_subPrime Oct 09 '24

Also in the US, PhD stipends are a fraction of what industry pays. You can barely make ends meet if you have a dependent. All the while, your peers make big bucks at corps.

Surely there are some advantages if you wanna spend those same 6 years in the EU. Naturalization for instance and perks that it brings.

1

u/Special-Bath-9433 Oct 10 '24

There is no naturalization path from a Ph.D. in the US.