This as told essay is based on a conversation with Luciana Pereyra, a 25-year-old Peruvian national who moved to the US on a tennis scholarship at age 17, lost her H-1B sponsored job in 2025, and had to return to Peru. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I was born and raised in Lima, Peru, and I have loved tennis since I was seven, when my father first took me to a court five minutes from our house. My parents always wanted me to play a sport.
I started competing when I was about 11, and when I was 14 I saw older girls from my club going to the US. tennis scholarships. I wanted that too. An agency put me in touch with American college coaches and I sent them a video of myself playing in tournaments in South and Central America.
I chose a school in the US based on what it had to offer.
I moved to the US at the age of 17 on an F-1 student visa
I spent my freshman year at Middle Georgia State University and then transferred to the University of Findlay in Ohio. I played four years of varsity tennis there while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.
I graduated in May 2022 with a 4.0 GPA. Because the pandemic gave college athletes an extra year of NCAA qualification which meant I could continue competing, I stayed for an MBA and finished the following year. My grant covered almost everything.
The pandemic gave college athletes, like Pereyra, an extra year of NCAA eligibility. Delivered by Luciana Pereyra
I was looking for a job back in October 2022, but I kept getting rejected after answering yes to the question if I needed sponsorship. Ultimately, I landed a role as a marketing and communications specialist at Ohio State’s College of Nursing.
My future boss agreed to hold the offer until July when my OPT authorization began. About nine months later, in April 2024, my H-1B Approval Notice arrived.
She earned both a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA from the University of Findlay in Ohio. Delivered by Luciana Pereyra
The US started to feel like home
Once I had my own apartment in Columbus and was making my own money, I felt settled. But I’ve never felt completely relaxed about it. I never really decorated my house because I didn’t know how long I could keep it.
That stability only lasted until the end of 2025, when the College of Nursing was restructured. On December 15th, HR told me that my position would end on January 15th. I would have 60 days find a new main sponsor and file a new petition, or leave the country.
The timing made everything worse. Universities closed for winter break just as my clock started running, so nothing could happen until mid-January.
I focused my job search on other universities, hoping they would be more open to it hiring international employees. A promising interview in Chicago fell apart the day before it was scheduled to take place, when the recruiter learned I needed sponsorship and said the company had cut sponsorship altogether.
In February, I came close to landing a new job at Ohio State. But about two weeks before my deadline to leave the country, I received an email stating that they were unable to get a visa approved in time or sponsor the organization. new H-1B rates required under my status.
In March I went back to Peru
I have dealt with the looking for a job like the last match of my career. But in February, exhaustion hit me. I remember crying on the phone with my mom because I just wanted it to be over.
A few weeks before I had to leave, I felt ready, in a way. I started looking at the US and just wanted to get away. I felt like everything I had done – my degrees, my grades, everything – didn’t matter or be appreciated.
Pereyra at the airport with two suitcases and hand luggage. Delivered by Luciana Pereyra
In my last days I had to break my leasegive up volunteering to translate for families in my community, and pack eight years of my life into two suitcases and a carry-on.
Being back in Peru brings a reverse culture shock
Over the past five months, I’ve gained something I hadn’t felt in years: the freedom from having to structure every decision around a visa.
I now divide my time between freelance marketing work for an American client, tennis coaching and construction Casumaa small company I launched in July that makes flavored cashew butters that combine the American nut butter tradition with Peruvian flavors like lucuma and cacao. I have trademarked the name and sold almost 50 jars so far.
In Peru she reconnects with family, including her two younger brothers. Delivered by Luciana Pereyra
It’s also been great to reconnect with my family since I’ve been back, including my two younger brothers.
I visited the US again for a wedding in July and enjoyed seeing everyone, but I wouldn’t move back now. If I ever move abroad againit is not on a work visa. I’ve been living in such survival mode for three years, where losing a job also means losing your home. There should be a real path to permanent residency.
Back in Peru, she does freelance marketing for an American client, coaches tennis and builds a small business. On condition of Luciana Pereyra
Studying and working in the US was rewarding, especially for the English-speaking and cultural experience. But my advice would be to look at it as a season, and not something permanent.
I assumed that my American degrees and work experience would open any door, but it was harder than expected. And without wanting to get political, there is a narrative that immigrants are taking American jobs. In my experience, I had to prove myself over and over again to get my foot in the door. It’s not as easy as people think.
Business Insider confirmed that she was employed by Ohio State’s College of Nursing. Ohio State declined to respond to a request for comment.
