I got my green card after working at Microsoft on an H-1B visa. The process was very painful, but I love the US and don't plan to leave.

Andres Pico is a software engineer at Starbucks.

Courtesy of Andres Pico

• Andres Pico, a software engineer from Ecuador, navigated the US education system to land a job at Microsoft.
• Pico faced challenges adapting to US standardized tests and sought scholarships to fund his education.
• He later transitioned to product management at Starbucks and recently bought a house in the US.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Andres Pico, a 29-year-old software engineer in Seattle. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in a small beach town called Manta in Ecuador with my dad, mom, and two sisters. My dad always taught me that there was nothing I couldn't do.

I became interested in computers and technology because of PlayStation. Sometimes, I couldn't finish a game because the dialogue and options were in English, so I became very motivated to learn computers and English.

After graduating from high school, I decided I wanted to pursue my education in the US

To apply to a university in the US, you must pass either the SAT or ACT. I bought an ACT book and prepared for many months to ensure I could get a good score.

I knew I couldn't attend college in the US without a scholarship, so I began investigating scholarships and programs. I found the University of South Florida in Tampa offered a scholarship for students from Latin American countries that would get me a student visa.

I was awarded the scholarship, which allowed me to receive a stipend of $1,000 a year to cover textbooks and resident status for tuition purposes.

I began a bachelor's degree in computer engineering in 2012

Coming to the US at 17 was very challenging. It was my first time leaving home, and there was a lot I didn't understand about the US. I had no close friends or family here for support or guidance.

It was also very exciting, as it was an opportunity to push myself. It took some time to get used to classes in English. I studied hard from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.

In my second semester, I found the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

The SHPE is a national organization that empowers Hispanics and offers mentorship programs in STEM. Classmates told me they offered free pizza. I'm really glad I was feeling hungry that day.

They were welcoming and taught me the basics of the school system, how to create a résumé, conduct interviews, and apply to grad school. It was a blessing to find them — suddenly, I had a community of people who wanted to help me succeed.

A fellow student advised me to get as many internships as possible

That was the best advice I received for navigating the US system. If I had just focused on the school material and not gained practical experience, I'm not sure I would've been able to find a job after graduating.

I had multiple internships as a software engineer with local companies in data centers and startups via student work permits. These internships allowed me to gain experience and earn some money.

I was extremely fortunate to count on my dad's support to cover any difference between my earnings and expenses.

I went on to pursue a master's degree in computer science at Virginia Tech

I sought universities with good computer science programs and scholarships or assistantships. Virginia Tech had an amazing program and great tenured professors, and it offered me an opportunity as a TA, so the decision was obvious.

My teaching assistantship paid for all my tuition and also paid me around $20,000 each semester.

I started applying for jobs in 2017

I must've applied for over 100 of them. When you apply, employers ask you if they'll need to sponsor you at some point in the future, as not every employer can cover the financial costs associated with the process when the time comes.

I received four offers from Microsoft, Verizon, Deutsche Bank, and Disney. Microsoft had the best offer and was willing to sponsor my visa.

I started as a software engineer with Microsoft in 2018

When I started my job at Microsoft in Seattle, I could work thanks to a student work permit that lasts one year after graduation and is granted to all F-1 visa students. While working on the student permit, your employer helps you apply for an H-1B visa.

I applied for a green card after working on my H-1B visa for a year. By this point, I had lived in the US for about six years and created a whole life here, but the green card process was very painful.

The process makes life pretty horrible

Having a work visa and going through the green card process are privileges, but it is very hard to separate the emotional component.

There's no guarantee that you'll get to stay. If something goes wrong at any given time, you have to be ready to pack your bags and leave everything behind. I know some people who tried to get it three times and ran out of chances and had to return home.

The first few years working were also difficult because I wasn't around anyone who looked like me. I wanted to grow and challenge myself, but at the same time, it made me wonder if I belonged, and doubt and imposter syndrome crept in.

Luckily, Microsoft paid for the attorneys in the green card process, and no cost came out of my pocket.

I had to constantly review what they were putting on the application forms

My key takeaway is that, even if you're working with lawyers, you still have to assume complete ownership of the application process and remember the lawyers supporting you, being human, can make mistakes.

I was audited because some of the information that had been submitted was incorrect. It took me six to eight months to provide supplemental information and pass the audit.

In 2022, I finally received my green card after three years.

Last year, I decided to move into product management and took a new job at Starbucks

In software engineering, you work on problems created by engineers for engineers. I wanted to learn how to build products that our customers actually love, so I ended up becoming a technical product manager.

I love the US, I love the city I live in, and I love its people. I try to make it a better place by providing value through my career and volunteering in my local community.

I even recently bought a house here — I don't have plans to move anywhere else.

Want to share your story? Email Lauryn Haas at lhaas@businessinsider.com.

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