A tech professional from India expresses his true feelings of sadness and confusion despite being selected in a recent poll H-1B The lottery in America’s immigration crackdown. He is considering returning to India as his employer, a small startup, offers him the possibility to continue working remotely from India.
The news surfaced amid a wave of layoffs that prompted depressing posts about the “American Dream,” especially for those who weren’t part of the lottery and lacked other legal means to stay in the United States.
In a Reddit post, whose authenticity HT.com was unable to verify, the user said: “I H-1B lottery This year. Honestly, I always thought this was going to be a “finally, I made it” moment. But instead I felt a strange sense of sadness and I didn’t really understand why. “
Indian tech worker in US says: ‘I feel mentally exhausted’
The Reddit user detailed that he lived in the United States for four years, during which time he completed a master’s degree, then OPT, STEM OPT, and now also holds an H-1B visa. “I did everything ‘right’ to get here. But now that this is actually happening, I feel mentally exhausted. Almost exhausted,” the Reddit user continued.
Sharing his plans to move back to India, the user said: “Part of me is thinking about moving back to India. My current employer (small startup) is willing to let me continue doing the same job in India, so I’m not starting from scratch.”
The Reddit user also mentioned concerns about returning, saying: “At the same time, I’ve been thinking: What if I go back and regret missing out on my opportunity in the U.S.? What if I stay, get fired next year, and end up in a worse situation? Am I just tired and making an emotional decision?”
“I always pursued this path thinking this was the goal. Now that I’m here, I’m not even sure if this is what I want.”
Indian techies seeking advice
As the Reddit user also sought advice on the potential outcomes of returning to India, several users stressed the importance of having a clear goal to guide his decision-making process.
Many suggested that he try working in India for a month to assess whether he liked the arrangement. Others warned him, however, that this option risked being stuck in India indefinitely due to immigration issues.
“Ask your employer to work from home for a month. Go to India to visit your family. See if this is what you really want. Usually, for most people, going back for a short period makes things clearer. At least for me, it did and I’m back, haha,” one person commented.
“I totally understand your situation! I’m exhausted from all these visa issues and planning to leave here and go back. I’m also working for a startup that plans to move me back to India. I guess no matter where you end up, you’ll always feel like you’re missing out. The key is to find a way to accept it. Whatever your decision, try to prioritize your well-being and find happiness in the current situation,” another user said.
