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| Getty Images; Alyssa Powell |
For thousands of skilled immigrants, especially those employed at Google and other Big Tech firms, the H-1B visa uncertainty defines not only their careers but also their personal lives. This work visa has become the cornerstone of Silicon Valley’s global workforce, yet it comes with constant anxiety, strict legal hurdles, and the fear of sudden disruption. From software engineers to startup founders, the struggle to balance ambition with visa restrictions is a reality that shapes both innovation and identity in the tech industry.
What Is the H-1B Visa and Why It Matters in Tech
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals for highly skilled roles. Tech giants such as Amazon, Meta, Google, and Apple sponsor thousands of these visas each year. In some cases, these firms spend as much as $500,000 to recruit and retain top talent.
According to USCIS records, Indian professionals account for the majority of H-1B recipients, especially in software engineering, data science, and artificial intelligence roles. The program opens doors to exceptional careers but also imposes restrictions that shape personal and professional choices.
Google Engineers on H-1B Visa Uncertainty
A Dream Career with Lingering Anxiety
Pushkar Singh, 31, is a staff engineer at Google specializing in AI-driven advertising. He describes the H-1B visa as both a blessing and a burden.
“The H-1B visa has enabled me to build the career I always dreamed of. But the emotional toll is real.”
Working at Google for nearly seven years, he worries about the constant risk of layoffs. A 60-day grace period after job loss makes it difficult to find stable opportunities, especially in a cooling job market. The uncertainty affects not just his career but also family planning and life decisions.
Over a Decade in the U.S., but Still Not Home
Surabhi Madan, 30, a senior software engineer at Google in New York, has been on an H-1B visa for years. Despite professional success, she struggles with the lack of stability.
She recalls a border officer once telling her: “You don’t live here; you work here.” That moment highlighted the conditional nature of her stay in the U.S. Even after more than a decade, she avoids buying a home or committing to long-term plans, always mindful that her place in the country is temporary.
The Emotional Toll of Job Insecurity
Getting Laid Off Was My Lowest Moment
For Debpriya Seal, 40, losing his job at Twitter in 2022 triggered the 60-day countdown. He scrambled to apply to dozens of companies, often rejected once they learned he needed visa sponsorship.
“I was in survival mode, rushing to prepare for interviews and apply to jobs. Some companies simply said no once they knew I needed sponsorship.”
He eventually landed at Intuit and later moved to LinkedIn, but the stress of sudden unemployment left a lasting mark.
Layoffs, Grace Periods, and the Risk of Deportation
The H-1B program is especially harsh during layoffs. Unlike U.S. citizens, visa holders have just two months to secure another sponsor or leave the country. Many sell belongings, halt family plans, and live in constant fear of forced return.
This short grace period is one of the most criticized aspects of the visa system, especially as tech layoffs have intensified since 2022.
Balancing Career Growth and Family Planning
Surabhi’s story reflects a common theme among H-1B holders. Visa restrictions limit career flexibility and even personal milestones like starting a family. For some, the inability to pursue side projects, volunteer work, or secondary employment makes life feel constrained despite financial success.
Others, like Pushkar Singh, admit they delay decisions about raising children or moving parents to the U.S., fearing a sudden job loss could uproot their lives overnight.
From Startups to Silicon Valley Giants: H-1B Realities
Founding a Startup on an H-1B Comes with Risks
Debjit Saha, 38, co-founded HomeAbroad Inc. but faced unique hurdles as an H-1B holder. He couldn’t manage operations directly without risking a violation, relying on his cofounder for CEO duties.
His story underscores how entrepreneurship is nearly impossible under strict visa terms. Even as a cofounder, he had to carefully consult attorneys before taking on responsibilities outside his defined role.
Leaving the U.S. to Start a Business and Returning on a New Visa
For Soundarya Balasubramani, an H-1B holder turned entrepreneur, the restrictions pushed her to return to India to start her company. She later secured an O-1 visa and moved back to the U.S., but her experience reflects how the H-1B often stifles innovation instead of encouraging it.
Why Indian Professionals Dominate the H-1B Program
India remains the top source of H-1B applicants. Many, like Vaashu Sharma, initially move for graduate studies before securing roles at tech companies. Yet visa delays, family challenges, and green card backlogs drive some to return home or move to alternative destinations like Canada.
Sai Chiligireddy’s story shows this trend well after multiple failed attempts, he relocated to Canada, only to return later to the U.S. after finally being selected in the lottery.
Possible Reforms to Reduce Visa Uncertainty
Critics and advocates alike argue that the H-1B system needs reform. Proposed changes include:
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Prioritizing applicants based on accomplishments rather than random lottery.
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Extending the 60-day grace period after layoffs.
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Providing clearer pathways to permanent residency.
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Supporting entrepreneurial activity for visa holders.
Until these reforms are implemented, H-1B visa uncertainty will continue to dominate the lives of skilled immigrants, including Google engineers and countless others across Silicon Valley.
Conclusion
The stories of Google engineers and Big Tech immigrants highlight the complex reality of the H-1B program. While it creates pathways to incredible opportunities, it also leaves workers and families vulnerable to sudden layoffs, visa backlogs, and constant anxiety. The phrase “H-1B visa uncertainty” is not just a headline it is the lived experience of tens of thousands who call Silicon Valley home but remain unsure of their future.
Until reforms address the lottery system, the limited grace period after job loss, and the long wait for green cards, the cycle of insecurity will continue. For many immigrants, the question is no longer just about professional success it’s about whether they can truly build stable lives in the United States.
