Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Why a Six-Figure US Salary Couldn’t Keep Her There
Lamba moved to the United States to study and later built a career there.
She became a data scientist at CVS Health in 2024.
She liked her job, friends, and life in New York.
But she often felt lonely after work because her family was far away.
She also worried about missing important family moments and being unable to help her parents quickly.
Her H-1B visa made travel and career changes feel more difficult.
She returned to Gurugram, India, to live with her family and took a short break from work.
She misses parts of New York, but being close to her parents makes her feel that she made the right choice.
Lamba left a data-scientist role at CVS Health and returned from New York to Gurugram.
She said loneliness and distance from her parents increasingly outweighed the benefits of living in the United States.
Her H-1B visa concerns included travel requirements and complications involving job changes, side income, and career breaks.
After returning to India, she moved in with her parents and took a two-month career break using her savings.
Although she misses New York, Lamba said seeing her parents every morning made returning home worthwhile.
- Who
- Lamba, a data scientist formerly employed by CVS Health.
- What
- She resigned from her US job and moved back to India.
- When
- She joined CVS Health in 2024 and said she was selected in the H-1B lottery in March 2026; she then returned to India and took a two-month career break.
- Where
- She moved from New York to Gurugram, where she lives with her parents and brother.
- Why
- She wanted to be closer to her family and felt that India offered greater flexibility without H-1B visa restrictions.
Reasons to Stay in the United States
Reasons to Return to India
Career and flexibility
Reasons to Stay in the United States
The United States offered Lamba a data-science job at CVS Health and a professional and social life she enjoyed.
Reasons to Return to India
She believes India offers comparable opportunities and allows her to change employers, start a business, or pursue a side hustle without visa restrictions.
Lifestyle
Reasons to Stay in the United States
Lamba misses New York’s skyline, walkability, and cleaner public parks.
Reasons to Return to India
She values the convenience of house help in India and the extra time it gives her for personal interests.
Family and belonging
Reasons to Stay in the United States
Living in New York gave her independence and new experiences, but she said friends could not replace family.
Reasons to Return to India
Returning to Gurugram lets her see and hug her parents every morning and be closer if they need her.
- Former employer
- CVS Health
- Role
- Data scientist
- US location
- New York
- New home
- Gurugram, India
- Visa
- H-1B; she said she was selected in the lottery in March 2026
- Career status after returning
- She had not secured another job and planned a two-month break funded by her savings
- Family
- She returned to live with her parents and brother