A 29-year-old Indian professional working in the US described the stress of repeated failures in the H-1B lottery as a “perpetual subscription,” in a viral Reddit post cited by American Bazaar.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 his course in about a year and a half, supported himself by working on campus, and later secured a full-time job at a major bank while working on Optional Practical Training (OPT).He said he initially took out an education loan of about $40,000, which he later paid off in full, and slowly built up savings of about $100,000.
However, despite financial stability and a steady job, he said uncertainty about his immigration status still dominates his life.“On paper it sounds great… but worrying about the visa is basically a permanent subscription at this point,” the Reddit user wrote.After three failed attempts at the H-1B lottery, he said the emotional stress became difficult to control.“At this point, I am convinced that my name is not in the simulation,” he said.
“Mentally, it’s exhausting to do everything ‘right’ and have your future determined by a random lottery,” he added.The user added that he may now consider remitting back to India, where he can earn around Rs 30,00,000 (or $35,300) per year in his home city. The idea of returning also came with the appeal of being close to family and not having to constantly track immigration updates, he said.“Finally, I’m living a life where I don’t check H1B news like it’s stock market earnings,” he wrote, adding: “Also yeah…marriage pressure has officially entered the chat.”The post sparked a discussion among other Indian professionals in similar situations, with many sharing their own experiences of burnout, uncertainty, and plans to return to India after years in the US.He said he has achieved what many consider professional success, but he still suffers from constant stress.“My stats: I came to get my master’s degree, survived a toxic job market, and worked my way up to a lead manufacturing engineer position at a startup.
On paper, this is the dream — a potential client title, 100% debt-free, and a solid earning dollar. But like I said, visa anxiety is background noise that never goes out.He added that the possibility of returning to India has already brought some relief.“The ‘getting comfortable’ process really started once the flight was booked.”This comes as hundreds of applicants face delays in processing their H-1B visa due to high petition volume, increased Requests for Evidence (RFEs), more stringent USCIS vetting for specialized occupations, and additional security and background checks under the Trump administration.
