-
Forced to leave US over visa hurdles
-
A decade-long journey in the US ends in disappointment for an Indian tech professional
-
Changing immigration policies and recession force him a return to India
An Indian tech professional who spent the past 10 years working in the United States has shared his anguish on Reddit after being forced to leave the country due to visa restrictions. In a post titled “Wasted 10 years chasing American dream”, the NRI detailed how a combination of the economic downturn and restrictive immigration policies ended his American dream, reported hindustantimes.com.
Despite a decade of hard work, his visa was not renewed—leaving him with no choice but to return to India, a country where he’s never worked professionally.
The techie, who did not reveal his name, said his employer declined to extend his visa amid the current economic slowdown, and other US companies were reluctant to hire non-citizens. “They only want US citizens no matter how talented and hardworking Indians on work visa are,” he wrote.
Now facing a challenging transition, he asked the online community for guidance on job hunting in India.
His story echoes that of many Indian professionals caught between tightening US immigration policies and a saturated job market, with social media filled with similar tales of dashed dreams and difficult homecomings
Online Community Reacts with Support and Realism
The Reddit thread quickly drew hundreds of responses, many expressing empathy and offering advice.
“Hope you have saved a good corpus while working in the USA. Adapting to Indian work culture after a decade abroad won’t be easy,” one commenter said.
Another wrote bluntly, “Try to stay in the US as long as possible. I came back and regret it every day. Work conditions here are bad.”
Others encouraged him to consider alternative destinations like Canada or Europe, where immigration processes may be more welcoming for skilled workers.
Some users offered practical job-search advice, urging him to use LinkedIn and join tech groups based in India to discover new roles. One user added, “It’s sad, but sometimes chasing the dream comes at a cost. At least you’re returning with experience.
The story reflects a broader trend of disillusionment among Indian professionals abroad, as the shifting immigration climate in the US continues to push highly-skilled NRIs out of the system.
