Job losses, visa uncertainty and mounting housing costs are forcing Indian professionals to reconsider their American dream, with Hyderabad emerging as a destination for returnees
Thousands of Indian technology professionals who moved to the United States in search of high-paying jobs are facing mounting financial and career pressures as lay-offs and immigration uncertainties disrupt their lives. Some are returning to India, often accepting substantially lower salaries and struggling to rebuild their careers.
A report published by Telugu news outlet V6 Velugu on October 19 highlights the difficulties faced by Indian expatriates, particularly Telugu-speaking professionals, who have lost jobs and found it increasingly difficult to maintain their lives in the US.
For some families, losing employment has triggered a chain of financial problems, including rent payments, housing loans and the cost of maintaining vehicles. Professionals who once earned high salaries are reportedly leaving rented homes before their leases expire and selling or abandoning possessions before returning to India.
Immigration concerns have added to the pressure. Indian professionals on H-1B work visas can face strict deadlines to find new employment after losing their jobs. Uncertainty surrounding employment-based immigration and green-card applications has also complicated long-term plans for some families.
Hyderabad is among the destinations attracting returning professionals. However, securing a job at a salary comparable to US earnings is proving difficult. The V6 Velugu report cites the case of a technology professional who previously earned an annual salary equivalent to more than Rs 1 crore in the US but returned to Hyderabad to work for around Rs 35 lakh a year.
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The trend is reflected in wider employment data
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According to a report published by The Times of India on October 15, about 12,700 US-based Indian technology professionals returned to India between January and September 2026, based on figures from staffing firm Xpheno
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The number is approaching the 15,100 recorded for the whole of 2025
Indian students are also facing difficulties, with some graduates reportedly taking temporary jobs in petrol stations, supermarkets and delivery services while searching for suitable employment and meeting education-related debts.
The developments underline the risks of relying on overseas employment as a route to financial security. For returning professionals, India offers proximity to family and new career possibilities, but finding suitable work and adjusting to lower salaries remain significant challenges.
