This as told essay is based on a conversation with Shreya Mishra Reddy, 34, an Indian citizen currently in Toronto on a tourist visa. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I moved to the USA from India to do my master’s degree in Engineering Management at Duke University in 2021.
I graduated in 2022 and got a job at Visa the following year. But even though I tried, I didn’t get an H-1B visaso I had to leave the country in January 2026, when my student work permit expired.
My plan was to move back to India and continue applying for jobs in the US. But in September 2025, news broke that companies could face a bonus $100,000 fee to hire H-1B workers from outside the US.
An H-1B no longer seemed like a realistic option to me because I expected the compensation to apply to me.
The compensation was challenged in court and is not currently enforced, but I am still not looking for opportunities in the US due to the uncertainty surrounding compensation and finding H-1B sponsored jobs.
I didn’t know how hard it could be to be an international student
Reddy found job hunting in the US difficult. Thanks to Shreya Mishra Reddy
Social media painted a rosy picture of moving to the US, so my family and I knew nothing of the hardships international students face while looking for a job in a country where you have no support and know nothing about the market.
My family in India encouraged me to look for a job in the US, but I found the process very difficult. My job at Visa felt like a miracle, and I think the only reason I got it was because I had previous work experience in India.
It felt difficult as a fresh graduate with limited experience, and many of my classmates had to move back to India because they couldn’t find a job. It’s a sad reality, considering that people take out loans and spend a lot to get one American university.
I did well because I worked at a top company where I learned so much. But students, and their parents, often do who are instrumental in sending their children abroad need to be aware of the harsh realities of studying in the US, especially now that AI is making it difficult for new graduates to get jobs and layoffs are becoming so common.
In 2025, I started an online community for international students in the US, which now has more than 9,000 members. Due to the proposed fee and the uncertainty surrounding the lottery system, I see more interest in talent visas for “extraordinary” individuals, such as the O-1. I don’t know if this will work for them, especially if more people sign up. I haven’t thought about applying for one of these visas because I feel like it is is going to be more difficult.
I decide where I will settle next
I am currently in Toronto, where my husband lives, on a tourist visa. I am unsure whether to settle here or return to India.
I took a career break to work on personal projects, including writing a fiction book and starting my own handloom brand. I’m also looking into jobs at fintech companies, but I’ll have to see what offers I get and what the growth potential looks like before I decide which country to choose. live in.
Reddy does not see a return to India as a failure. Thanks to Shreya Mishra Reddy
People who move to the US for a few years often view returning to India as a failure, but I am not afraid of this. During my job search, I have seen great growth opportunities in cities like Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. The startup industry is really booming.
I still have a great appreciation for American education. I learned so much during my master’s degree at Duke. In March, I applied to pursue a master’s degree in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, a field in which I have always been interested. I was accepted, but decided not to continue due to factors such as uncertainty surrounding student visas and the job market.
I am optimistic about my future outside the US
I could no longer stay in the US, but I am optimistic about my future outside the country. Moving from India for the US required strength and resilience, and I believe these qualities will serve me well. The experience I gained in the US transformed me personally and professionally and added a lot to my resume.
I’m still figuring out my next steps, but I’m sure I’ll do something great with my life.
Not getting a job in the US isn’t the end of the world.
Business Insider confirmed that she was employed by Visa. Visa declined to respond to a request for comment.
