American Bazaar cited a viral Reddit post in which a 29-year-old Indian professional working in the United States described the stress of repeatedly failing the H-1B lottery as a “permanent subscription.”The user said he moved to the United States to pursue a master’s degree during what he called “one of the worst job markets ever.” He completed the course in about 1.5 years, supported himself through on-campus jobs, and later secured a full-time position at a top bank while working under Optional Practical Training (OPT).He said he initially took out an education loan of about $40,000, which he later repaid in full, and slowly accumulated nearly $100,000 in savings. Yet despite financial stability and a secure job, he said uncertainty about his immigration status still dominates his life.“On the surface this sounds great… but visa anxiety is basically a permanent subscription,” the Reddit user wrote.After three failed attempts at the H-1B lottery, he said the emotional stress became unmanageable.“At this point I’m convinced my name is not in the simulation,” he said.He added: “Mentally it’s exhausting to do everything ‘right’ but still have your future decided by a random draw.”The user added that he might now consider an internal transfer back to India, where he could earn around Rs 30,00,000 (or USD 35,300) per year back home. The idea of returning home also stemmed from the appeal of being closer to family and no longer having to constantly keep track of immigration updates, he said.“I’m finally living a life where I no longer check ‘H1B news’ as much as I check stock market returns,” he wrote, adding, “And yes…marital stress has officially entered the conversation.”The post sparked discussion among other Indian professionals in similar situations, many of whom shared their own experiences of burnout, uncertainty, and plans to return to India after spending a few years in the United States.He said he had achieved what many would consider professional success but still struggled with constant pressure.“My stats: Pursuing a master’s degree, surviving a dumpster fire job market, and working my way up to being a lead manufacturing engineer at a startup. On paper, it’s the dream – leading title, 100% debt-free, and a solid dollar nest egg. But like you said, visa anxiety is a background noise that never goes away. “The possibility of returning to India has brought some relief, he added.“As soon as you book your flight, the ‘relief’ starts to kick in.”This comes as hundreds of applicants face delays in H-1B visa processing due to high application volume, an increase in requests for evidence (RFEs), increased scrutiny of specialty occupations by USCIS, and additional security and background checks implemented by the Trump administration.
