Archive · 8 Jan 2026
H-1B Visa Holders Face Challenges
Ravi is an IT professional who moved to the US on an H-1B visa.
He worked there for over ten years but decided to move back to India.
The main reasons were feeling lonely after COVID, missing his family, and the very long wait for a green card.
He also found that the cost of living in the US was high, and he wasn't earning much more than when he started.
Ravi and his family sold most of their belongings and moved to Hyderabad.
He now works remotely and visits his office in Bengaluru once a month.
Additionally, other H-1B visa holders are facing challenges such as layoffs and delays in visa appointments, which have been postponed by several months due to tougher background checks and expanded social media vetting.
Ravi, an IT professional, returned to India after over a decade in the US on an H-1B visa.
Loneliness post-COVID and the distance from family were major triggers for his decision.
The green card backlog of 150–190 years discouraged him from staying in the US.
Financial factors, including inflation and rising living costs, made staying in the US less appealing.
Ravi and his family moved to Hyderabad, where he works remotely and visits his office in Bengaluru monthly.
- Who
- Ravi, an IT professional, and other H-1B visa holders
- What
- Returned to India or face challenges with H-1B visas
- When
- After experiencing layoffs or reassessing priorities
- Where
- From the US to India
- Why
- Due to loneliness, family distance, financial logic, green card backlog, and visa processing delays
Pros of Returning to India
Cons of Returning to India
Family and Well-being
Pros of Returning to India
Prioritizing family and well-being, reducing loneliness and distance from loved ones.
Cons of Returning to India
Leaving behind career opportunities and potential financial growth in the US.
Financial Considerations
Pros of Returning to India
Lower living costs and potentially better financial stability in India.
Cons of Returning to India
Potential loss of higher earning potential and career advancement in the US.
Visa and Immigration
Pros of Returning to India
Avoiding the long green card backlog and uncertain immigration policies.
Cons of Returning to India
Losing the opportunity to permanently settle in the US and the benefits of an H-1B visa.
- Name
- Ravi
- Profession
- IT professional
- Duration in US
- Over a decade
- Green Card Wait Time
- 150–190 years
- Current Location
- Hyderabad, India
- Reason for Return
- Loneliness, family distance, financial logic, green card backlog
- Current Work Arrangement
- Remote work from Hyderabad with monthly trips to Bengaluru
- Visa Status
- H-1B visa holder laid off
- Visa Appointment Delays
- Up to several months
Sources
H-1B visa professional on major trigger that made him move back to India: ‘….something no salary hike could compensate for’
‘My H-1B approved but stuck in a 34-month queue’, Attorney shares legal fixes for missing form I-824
