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Getty Images; Alyssa Powell |
For many skilled immigrants, the H-1B visa represents a ticket to the American dream but that dream often comes with emotional strain, legal hurdles, and a constant sense of uncertainty.
Major tech companies such as Amazon, Meta, Google, and Apple secure the largest share of these visas each year. In some cases, these firms are willing to pay as much as $500,000 to attract top talent, according to H-1B data reviewed.
Over the past decade, Indian professionals in tech roles have accounted for the majority of H-1B recipients, according to USCIS records.
local press spoke with seven current and former H-1B holders who moved from India to work in U.S. tech companies. Their stories offer a candid look at a program that opens doors to exceptional careers but also places restrictions on personal and professional decisions.
Tech industry layoffs, evolving immigration policies, and India's booming startup ecosystem all add pressure to the lives of those on this temporary visa. For some, the rewards outweigh the stress. For others, doubts are beginning to surface.
A Dream Career with Lingering Anxiety
Pushkar Singh, 31, is a staff engineer at Google, specializing in AI-driven advertising. He lives in California.
The H-1B visa has enabled me to build the career I always dreamed of. But the emotional toll is real.
I’ve been at Google for nearly seven years under this visa. It limits my risk-taking switching jobs is possible, but risky if the company has high turnover. Being laid off means I only have 60 days to find new employment, which doesn’t leave much room to wait out a slow job market.
My journey started in 2015 when I joined Google in Bangalore. At the time, opportunities in AI were scarce in India, so relocating to Silicon Valley was a logical step. In 2017, I moved to California on an L-1 visa, meant for internal company transfers. Eventually, I transitioned to an H-1B visa in 2018 through Google’s sponsorship and was fortunate to be selected in the first lottery attempt.
Since then, I’ve contributed to tools like PMax, which helps small businesses use AI for advertising.
The uncertainty extends to personal life too. My wife and I are cautious about starting a family or relocating our parents. Losing my job would force all of us to return to India within two months.
There’s a misconception that H-1B holders take jobs away from Americans or are paid less. In my experience, companies are required to offer equal opportunities to U.S. citizens, and I earn the same as my peers.
I believe the program is necessary but needs reform. Like the O-1 or EB-1 visas, considering personal accomplishments in the selection process would be a step forward.
Over a Decade in the U.S., but Still Not Home
Surabhi Madan, 30, is a senior software engineer at Google based in New York.
I’ve been with Google for eight years, and while I love the work, I’m beginning to crave long-term stability.
As an H-1B holder, performance is critical it’s the one thing I can control. I’ve considered a career change, like teaching, but secondary employment isn’t allowed under my visa. Pursuing a new degree would mean going back to a student visa, and many teaching roles don’t meet the minimum salary thresholds for work authorization.
I arrived in the U.S. in 2013 to study at Brown University. I interned with Google during college and secured a full-time role after graduation. I obtained my H-1B in the first lottery.
I’ll never forget re-entering the U.S. after a trip and telling a border officer I “lived here.” He replied, “You don’t live here; you work here.” That moment stuck with me it’s a subtle reminder that my place here is conditional.
Despite 12 years in the U.S., many aspects of life remain uncertain. I worry about making small mistakes like filing taxes incorrectly that could jeopardize my status. I avoid volunteering, unsure of its legal implications without legal advice.
While peers are buying homes and starting families, I’m hesitant to lay down roots. I always opt for a one-year lease.
Even family planning is shaped by my visa. I once considered freezing my eggs but worried about losing access to them if my visa status changed. I can’t imagine raising a child while living under job-based immigration restrictions.
Still, I’m grateful. Working in tech has given me financial security, and on tough days, I focus on what I can control.
Getting Laid Off Was My Lowest Moment
Debpriya Seal, 40, lives in California. He was laid off from Twitter in 2022, triggering the H-1B’s 60-day countdown to find a new sponsor.
In November 2022, I got the dreaded email I had been laid off. It was devastating.
I moved to the U.S. in 2012 for my master’s degree and joined Twitter in 2016 as a data engineer. They transferred my H-1B from my previous employer and began the green card process, which is still pending.
Losing my job meant I had 60 days to find new employment an incredibly short window. I was in survival mode, rushing to prepare for interviews and apply to jobs.
I submitted applications to around 50 companies, focusing on data and machine learning roles. Securing sponsorship was a hurdle some companies rejected me outright when they learned I needed it. While Big Tech companies like Apple or Meta are usually accommodating, many aren’t.
Job hunting during Q4, when hiring slows, made things even harder. I even started selling household items on Facebook Marketplace in case I had to return to India.
Thankfully, after about a month, Intuit offered me a staff software engineer position and transferred my H-1B. Since then, I’ve moved on to LinkedIn.
My overall experience with the visa has been positive, but there are frustrating aspects the lottery system and the short grace period after layoffs being chief among them.
Leaving the U.S. to Start a Business, and Returning on a New Visa
Soundarya Balasubramani, 29, is the founder and CEO of The Curious Maverick LLC. She splits her time between San Francisco and Bengaluru.
I came to the U.S. on an F-1 visa for my master’s at Columbia and later joined Salesforce, which sponsored my H-1B.
Salesforce made the process smooth I uploaded my documents, and their legal team handled the rest. I was selected in the H-1B lottery and started as a product manager in 2019.
In early 2023, I returned to India to launch a company focused on educational content and career mobility. I couldn’t pursue entrepreneurship in the U.S. on an H-1B, as it ties you to your employer.
Starting a business in the U.S. was always in my plan. I applied for the O-1 visa, designed for individuals with extraordinary abilities. My own company sponsored me, and after submitting extensive documentation awards, articles, references I was approved and moved back to the U.S. in October 2023.
While the U.S. immigration system has flaws, it also offers unmatched earning potential. At Salesforce, I started at $130,000 plus bonuses and stock options. I saved aggressively and sent money home.
Many H-1B holders ask me about launching side projects. Most feel paralyzed by the legal constraints.
India’s growing tech economy is enticing. The green card backlog and job insecurity have many reconsidering their future in the U.S.
There’s criticism from both sides: some Americans argue there are “too many Indians in tech,” while some Indians accuse us of contributing to brain drain. It’s a tough balance.
Founding a Startup on an H-1B Comes with Risks
Debjit Saha, 38, is the cofounder and CTO of HomeAbroad Inc., based in Buffalo, New York.
As an H-1B visa holder, I co-founded a startup. But I’ve had to navigate every step carefully.
I came to the U.S. in 2013 for a master’s in computer science and joined Oracle after graduation. They sponsored my H-1B, and I stayed until 2021.
While there, I began developing an idea with a friend to help immigrants secure better mortgage rates despite thin credit histories. But I couldn’t actively run the business while on an H-1B. Legal advice made it clear: I could invest, but not manage operations. My cofounder served as CEO while I continued working full-time.
In 2022, I left Oracle and the U.S. so our startup could apply to transfer my H-1B. We had to prove we could pay a competitive salary. As a self-funded venture, we used our own capital and paid my salary from revenue.
In 2023, I returned as CTO. Even though I’m a cofounder, my responsibilities are strictly tied to my official title. I can’t step into other roles like marketing that would breach my visa terms.
It’s a fine line, so I constantly consult with attorneys before making decisions.
I’m now exploring the EB-1 green card pathway. Despite the challenges, I’m grateful for the opportunity to build a business here. India’s economy is rising, but the U.S. still offers unmatched access to education and innovation.
Returning to India After a Decade Abroad
Vaashu Sharma, a senior software engineer at Airbnb, moved from California to Bengaluru in November 2024.
I moved to the U.S. in 2016 for a master’s in computer science at Stony Brook University. I later worked at IBM, then Meta, then Google.
My H-1B visa came through on the fourth attempt. But in 2024, I moved back to India. Being closer to my family and culture was the biggest motivator.
Big Tech’s presence in India has grown, and I’ve seen an increase in innovation and compensation.
Visa logistics were another factor. My husband and I had different renewal cycles. International travel became difficult due to visa backlogs post-pandemic. We avoided trips home, fearing we wouldn’t return easily.
Life on an H-1B felt restrictive. Despite high earnings and career growth, we couldn’t explore side hustles or sabbaticals. And the constant fear of deportation lingered.
In India, life is easier in many ways groceries arrive in minutes, and we can afford domestic help. The advantages outweigh the drawbacks.
From U.S. Dreams to Canadian Citizenship and Back Again
Sai Chiligireddy is an engineering manager at Amazon, working on Alexa. He lives in Seattle.
I moved to the U.S. in 2014 for grad school at Texas A&M. As a STEM major, I had three years of post-study work eligibility.
After several failed H-1B attempts, I heard about Canada’s points-based visa program. I got a job at Amazon in Vancouver and moved north.
I loved my team, but rebuilding my life from scratch twice in five years was emotionally exhausting. I eventually became a Canadian citizen.
Then, in a twist of fate, I was selected in the H-1B lottery on my fourth try and moved back to the U.S.
Being a Canadian citizen has perks. I don’t face the same visa-stamping hurdles as Indian nationals. I’m eligible for TN visas under NAFTA as a backup.
Still, the green card queue based on birthplace remains long. I’m cautious at work always going above and beyond to ensure job security.
If I had a green card, my job would feel like just a job. Right now, it’s my anchor to this country.