“Studied Here, Got the Job, But Leaving the U.S.”: Indian Workers Disheartened by the H-1B ‘Game’ Reveal Real Struggles

Thousands of Indian students come to the United States every year with the hope of not only completing their education but also securing a job. For this, obtaining an H-1B visa is essential. However, acquiring this visa has become increasingly challenging, leaving many foreign workers frustrated. One such Indian IT professional has decided to leave the U.S., sharing the difficulties she faced despite securing a high-paying job.

H-1B Setback in Texas
AI engineer Sunjana Ramna recently announced her decision to leave the U.S. She stated that this choice was not due to a lack of talent or effort on her part, but because of the complexities of the American immigration system, which left her with no other viable options. Sunjana holds a degree from Columbia University and had a job worth hundreds of thousands of rupees.

Tried Everything, Still Disappointed
In a LinkedIn post, Sunjana explained that she decided to leave the U.S. after repeatedly failing to obtain an H-1B visa. She said, “I came to the U.S. 4.5 years ago with an $80,000 student loan and unwavering belief in the American dream.” Despite following all the conventional steps to secure a future in the U.S.—attending an Ivy League university, securing a high-paying tech job, paying off her student loans, speaking at global stages like TEDx, and selling SaaS products—she still faced disappointment.

Three Attempts, No H-1B Visa
Sunjana shared that despite accomplishing so much, she was never selected in the H-1B visa lottery. “I applied for the H-1B lottery three times, and every time I received a rejection. It’s hard to explain the heartbreak of doing everything ‘right’ and still facing such an unexpected setback,” she said. She also highlighted that this experience is common among other migrants, emphasizing that no matter how well-prepared one is, the outcome is ultimately beyond their control.

Understanding the H-1B Visa
The H-1B visa allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers for specialized roles. Each year, only 65,000 visas are issued, and selection is done through a lottery system. The company offering the job files the H-1B petition on behalf of the worker, and only those selected in the lottery can proceed with the visa application. Critics argue that this lottery system often denies visas to highly qualified candidates, leaving many deserving workers without opportunities.