Getting my H-1B on the first try felt like 'pure luck.' 4 years later, a layoff meant I had to leave the US.
Soumi Chanda, an Indian national who spent 13 years in the US, shares her experience of being laid off and forced to leave the country despite having secured an H-1B visa. Her story highlights the precarious nature of employment-based immigration for foreign professionals in the US.
Why it matters
It illustrates the personal and professional impact of US visa policies and the instability faced by skilled immigrant workers during economic downturns.
Soumi Chanda got laid off last year and moved back to India. Provided by Soumi Chanda Soumi Chanda moved from Kolkata to the US for graduate school and spent 13 years building a career and life there. She was picked for an H-1B visa on her first try and later moved to Seattle after Amazon acquired her visa sponsorship. After she got laid off last year, Chanda returned to India with her two cats. I spent almost 13 years building a life in the United States , and then I had 60 days to pack up and leave it all behind. I was raised in Kolkata and never lived anywhere else until 19.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in