Leaving Google and Risking My U.S. Visa for a London Startup

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When my transfer to Google's Mountain View office was approved in 2024, I was over the moon.

Growing up in a secluded Austrian village, living in Silicon Valley was a dream inspired by early tech enthusiasms and a desire to be in the heart of innovation.

My role was anchored in California, yet I was still stationed in London. Less than a year in, I sought a shift to the States.

Two years into my tenure as a software engineer, Google finally moved me to Silicon Valley. Merely a year onward, I made the bold choice to resign and jump to London to join a start-up accelerator, a move that seemed audacious in a precarious job market.

Silicon Valley's Allure and Reality

In 2022, I began as part of Google's Pixel audio team. Despite the job's excitement, London's remote environment rendered simple queries into prolonged delays. Time zone differences often meant a full day waiting for responses, and late-night online collaborations became routine.

Finally reaching the Mountain View hub felt like stepping into a scene from those dreamlike Hollywood depictions of California. This region's beauty was unmatched, and calling it home was surreal.

Interacting with a community of tech brains was invigorating. Surfing outings turned into discussions about code and technology's future. Surprisingly, the infrastructure was average, and internet reliability was often questionable.

From Growth Spurt to Stagnation

Google’s headquarters offered a harmonious work environment. Regular hours and a supportive team dynamic were hallmarks of the experience.

The initial months were filled with steep learning curves and rewarding challenges. My duties expanded significantly, giving me impactful system roles unusual for a company of this magnitude.

Having direct access to the tools and teams related to my projects allowed for immediate problem-solving and dynamic decision-making. My knowledge grew exponentially within my first three months compared to past years.

Yet, after a year, I sensed a professional standstill. The avenues for substantial learning seemed to narrow, and my passion for side projects was restricted by visa terms.

Facing the Dilemma of Leaving Security

A close friend’s acceptance into a London startup program triggered my application, hoping to unite forces in our own enterprise. Acceptance required quick decision-making, as the start was imminent. Departing California meant leaving a lifestyle I cherished, alongside a secure job.

The labor market's volatility raised doubts about resigning and walking toward potential joblessness. However, equipped with technical expertise and Google's name on my résumé, I felt reassured in my employability.

Resigning from a prestigious position presented the biggest internal conflict, especially knowing it meant relinquishing a pathway to U.S. permanent residency. I was trapped between staying in a stagnant role for potential citizenship or pursuing a path promising greater professional satisfaction.

I came to terms that remaining purely for immigration slowed down any career advancement I yearned for.

Recognizing my youthful independence and financial cushion from past earnings, with no pressing family or financial obligations, I proceeded with submitting my resignation notice.

California Still Calls: The Vision Forward

With a few months into the accelerator, my co-founder and I are nurturing Vestry.ai, targeting solutions for hardware observability challenges. Our immediate goal is building and seeking investments, eventually steering back to California to thrive amidst its start-up culture.

California remains the nucleus for entrepreneurial pursuits, especially within the AI surge. It is an environment where technological dreams can flourish.

The demanding pace of the program leaves little room for doubt. Every day, I'm reassured it's the step I had to take.