“Returning from the U.S. Felt Like Gaining Freedom”: Story of an Indian Engineer Who Studied Abroad

The Realities of Life in the U.S. for Indians
Millions of Indians live and work in the United States, drawn by promises of high-paying jobs, advanced education, and global exposure. While many imagine life abroad as a gateway to freedom and success, the reality often tells a different story.

Gaurav, an engineer from Lucknow, shared his journey on the Desi Return podcast, describing how the U.S. eventually felt like a cage rather than an opportunity.

Education and Early Career in the U.S.
In 2014, Gaurav went to the United States to pursue higher studies in Electrical Engineering on a scholarship and education loan. He initially planned to settle there permanently. Soon after, he secured a job as a battery engineer, but within nine months, he lost it due to visa-related uncertainties. Despite applying to over 10,000 positions, only two companies—General Motors and Tesla—responded. After clearing interviews at both, he chose Tesla as his employer and worked as an R&D engineer in Reno, Nevada.

Lessons Learned and Financial Planning
The experience taught him that job security in a foreign country is never guaranteed. To safeguard his future, Gaurav began learning about personal finance and creating additional income streams. By 2020, he purchased his first house in the U.S., living in one room while renting out the rest, which helped him save significantly.

Visa Challenges and Personal Losses
Visa restrictions prevented Gaurav from returning to India in 2018 for his grandmother’s funeral and later during his mother’s paralysis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these setbacks, he continued to invest and save, emphasizing the importance of financial planning for long-term security.

Freedom in Returning Home
In 2025, when his visa expired, Gaurav returned to India. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “Returning home felt like gaining freedom. There was no tension about visas, no fear of suddenly having to leave. I could finally focus on my family.”

Today, Gaurav spends quality time with his family, traveling across India with his father and cherishing the sense of independence and belonging that returning home has brought him.