<snip>I was not aware that the wage levels were similar in the U.S. and Bulgaria. Why do we have so many Bulgarians in the U.S. then? What is the attraction? Most foreign nationals I talk to are here not for freedom and human rights but for the All-American dollar or an education.
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Hi Tracy,

Dreams, most of them relocated a few years ago.
To be honest situation changes last 2 years, when firms like SAP, HP open a offices in BG.
I suppose that you know that Germany has GreenCard pprograme for programmers. Boss of SAP said - way to pay for relocation, when I can build a new more functional office in Sofia, BG which will cost me the same as repair of old one in Germany. They pay the same salaries to all their officers - 5% germans, 5% romanians, 10% russians and 80% bulgarians. In this office thay build new generation of SAP suit in Java. He said that they found well educated and better qualified and motivated work force than german one on the same wage.

I know a few well established Indian and Pakistany firms which offer hourly rate higher than our($25) and they get projects.

The situation in software industry changes faster than even I like. :-)))
And from what I see because of development of the Internet conections, national boundaries will disapear very soon. Where(as a place) you work and live will be not so important. More important will be who is your clients. Are their market served through Internet, etc.