A former H-1B visa holder returns to India and shares his empowering experience of being cleared to work in India.
One Redditor, who recently left the US and moved to India permanently, shared an amazing experience of applying to an Indian company and not checking the box where the company asks if the applicant is authorized to work in the country.
The Redditor said that checking the “no” box for the first time is empowering in itself, as a person does not need a government lottery or a lawyer to be approved for life.The Redditor spent 11 years in the US chasing the American dream, from education to a job, buying a car and so on. “But if you’ve ever had an H-1B visa, you know the truth. You’re always one step away from a layoff or one lottery rejection before you pack your bags. The anxiety in the background never actually goes away,” the person wrote.The post continued: “Right now, I’m sitting in a bustling cafe in Bangalore, trying to figure out my next move. I want to build something of my own, so I spend my days researching real local problems that need solving. But to keep my options open, I’m also looking for corporate jobs.”“Yesterday, I was filling out a job application on an Indian portal. I scrolled to the bottom of the page, and my hands froze. It was like that.
Visa issue.“For more than a decade in the United States, this question has been my nightmare. ‘Will you now or in the future need visa sponsorship?'” Every time I had to check yes, I felt embarrassed. You just know that the moment you click that box, an automated HR system will likely toss your resume into the trash. It makes you feel like a burden, as if you’re an expensive complication rather than a talented professional.
I looked at the screen in front of me.
The Indian system was asking a similar question about international transfer and work permit. “I clicked no,” the Redditor said.“I can’t even describe the emotional rush I had. I literally sat and stared at the screen for five minutes. It felt like a huge weight had slid off my chest. No. I don’t need permission from the company to live here. And I don’t need a government lottery to decide if I can keep my house.”
“I don’t need a lawyer to approve my life,” the person added.The post continued: “Clicking ‘No’ gave me an incredible feeling of strength and relief. This was the first time in my life that I felt in complete control of my career. In America, your visa status always comes first, and your talent comes second. Here, I’m just a person with skills, looking to add value.”The Redditor has not turned a blind eye to the problems of living in India. “The reverse culture shock is definitely real. The traffic is crazy, the humidity is hitting me hard, and figuring out the right business problem to solve will take a lot of work. But submitting an application without the specter of immigration hanging over my head? I know I made the right choice. It’s good to be back home,” the person concluded.
