H-1B visas are the main channel for skilled immigrants to enter the United States. Tech giants like Amazon, Meta, Google, and Apple receive the highest number of H-1B visas each year. Data shows that these companies are willing to pay hefty fees, sometimes up to $500,000, to ensure they hire top talent.
According to records from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), over the past decade, the group with the highest number of H-1B beneficiaries has been individuals of Indian descent working in computer-related fields.
Recently, Business Insider interviewed seven H-1B visa holders, all from India, who are currently or have previously worked at large tech companies. Their experiences reveal that while the H-1B visa has provided them with opportunities to transform their lives, it has also brought uncertainties related to career changes, family planning, and more.
Pushkar Singh, a 31-year-old engineer, shared his journey from working in artificial intelligence at Google in India to being transferred to the advertising team in California with an H-1B visa. He highlighted the dream job opportunities the visa brought but also mentioned the pressure of job hunting within a limited timeframe if faced with job loss.
Singh emphasized that H-1B holders should not be seen as cheap labor taking American jobs, as companies hiring H-1B employees must provide equal job opportunities to Americans and offer competitive salaries.
Surabhi Madan, a 30-year-old senior software engineer at Google in New York, expressed gratitude for the opportunities H-1B has given her. Despite her success, not obtaining a green card after 12 years in the U.S. made her feel a sense of instability and lack of belonging.
Debpriya Seal, aged 40, shared his challenging experience of being laid off by Twitter despite their sponsorship for his green card application. He had to secure a new job within 60 days to stay in the U.S., ultimately finding relief after being hired by Intuit and having his H-1B visa transferred.
Soundarya Balasubramani, aged 29, founded a company in India focused on education content and talent mobility after obtaining an O-1 visa for “outstanding talents.” She acknowledged the limitations H-1B holders face in starting businesses and expressed mixed feelings about the visa system.
Debjit Saha, a 38-year-old co-founder and CTO of HomeAbroad Inc. in Buffalo, NY, navigated the complexities of running a company in the U.S. as an H-1B holder. He highlighted the importance of abiding by visa regulations and the value the visa brought to establishing his business.
Vaashu Sharma, who moved from Meta to Google before facing challenges with visa renewals and ultimately relocating to India, cited cultural proximity and work opportunities in her homeland as reasons for returning. She also noted restrictions, uncertainties, and constant worries about being deported as drawbacks of the H-1B visa.
Sai Chiligireddy, who transitioned from an unsuccessful H-1B lottery attempts to obtaining Canadian citizenship, highlighted the advantages of living in the U.S. as a Canadian citizen, including fewer restrictions and easier travel without visa stamping hassles.
Chiligireddy returned to Seattle after securing an H-1B visa through the lottery, recognizing the importance of giving his best at work to ensure job security despite having more flexibility than others.
In summary, these personal stories shed light on the complexities and challenges faced by H-1B visa holders, highlighting both the opportunities and uncertainties that come with pursuing a career in the United States as skilled immigrants.