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Indian Amazon Professional Describes Life Under U.S. Visa Uncertainty

Indian Amazon Professional Describes Life Under U.S. Visa Uncertainty
"We Can't Plan Ahead": Indian Tech Professional In US Opens Up About Visa Uncertainty · NDTV

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.

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

Sources

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