The hidden sacrifices of chasing an H-1B career in America
Highly skilled foreign workers in the U.S. on H-1B visas face significant financial and personal instability due to the program's unpredictable nature. Many struggle with long-term life planning, such as buying homes, because of the constant threat of visa expiration.
Why it matters
The article sheds light on the human cost of U.S. immigration policy, impacting the retention of global talent in the tech sector.
H-1B visa holders and hopefuls told us about the career, financial, and family costs they encountered while pursuing this visa route. Rob Dobi for BI In the five years Madhur Mehta has spent in the US, he's earned a master's degree, landed a program manager job at Amazon, and been selected for an H-1B visa . But at 35, Mehta still doesn't feel able to plan his life very far ahead. He and his fiancée explored buying a house last year, but couldn't bring themselves to commit. They're both from India, and she has one remaining attempt at the H-1B lottery cycle before her work authorization expires. "It's hard, you know, obviously you can't plan," Mehta told Business Insider, adding, "unless we are both very clear on what our visa status is." Madhur Mehta said he feels like he's been in a "race" since he moved to the US.
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