1 week ago
Indian Amazon Professional Describes Life Under U.S. Visa Uncertainty
Madhur Mehta is an Indian technology professional who lives and works in the United States.
He moved there in 2021 to study and build a career.
He later graduated and found work at Amazon.
His employer helped him obtain a type of work visa called an H-1B.
However, his ability to stay in the country is still connected to immigration rules and his job.
If he lost his job, he would generally have 60 days to find another one.
Because of this uncertainty, he and his fiancée have delayed buying a home and making other big plans.
He also worries about traveling to India and helping his family from far away.
Mehta says that photos of his successful life do not show the stress caused by his visa situation.
Madhur Mehta moved to the United States in August 2021 to pursue a master’s degree and build a career.
After graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2023, he worked under Optional Practical Training while seeking H-1B sponsorship.
Mehta eventually secured an H-1B lottery slot after joining Amazon, but remains concerned about possible policy changes and job loss.
Visa uncertainty led Mehta and his fiancée to postpone buying a home and other major life decisions.
He said the stress affects travel, family responsibilities, career planning, and hopes of starting a family.
- Who
- Madhur Mehta, a 35-year-old Indian technology professional who works for Amazon in Seattle, and his fiancée.
- What
- Mehta described how uncertainty over U.S. work visas has affected his career, travel, housing decisions, and family plans.
- Where
- He lives in Seattle, United States, and has family in India.
- When
- He moved to the United States in August 2021, graduated in 2023, and became engaged in 2025.
- Why
- His long-term plans remain uncertain because his ability to stay and work in the United States depends on visa rules and employment.
Key facts
- Professional
- Madhur Mehta works for Amazon in Seattle.
- Age
- 35
- Move to United States
- August 2021, for a master’s degree
- Education
- Graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2023
- Visa status
- Secured an H-1B lottery slot after joining Amazon
- Job-loss period
- H-1B holders generally have 60 days to find a new job after losing employment, according to Mehta.
- Personal plans
- Mehta and his fiancée postponed buying a home while they seek greater visa certainty.
- Future goal
- He plans to pursue an EB-1A visa and hopes it would support family, housing, and travel plans.
Quotes
Madhur Mehta
An Indian technology professional working for Amazon in Seattle
“Until we're both clear on our visa statuses, we can't plan ahead. Last year, we explored buying a house, but couldn't commit. I have friends who've been here for more than 10 years but are still renting apartments because of uncertainty.”
NDTV
“I still plan to pursue the EB-1A, and I'm glad the H-1B visa is giving me more time to build up my profile for the application. But there's still uncertainty. If the government decides to change the visa rules, it could flip my life.”
NDTV









