From H-4 to STEM OPT: Mechanical engineer struggles to stay in US amid visa uncertainty

For one 28-year-old mechanical engineer, the American Dream is slipping further away despite education, hard work, and legal status. Born in India and raised in the US since the age of 12 on an H-4 dependent visa, this former “H-4 kid” aged out of dependent status at 21. Now, despite holding both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering—with a focus on control systems and robotics—his life is in limbo. The student shared the details on Reddit.

Currently on STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training), the engineer has only one more shot at the H-1B lottery in 2026 before his work authorization expires in 2027. He works at a startup earning just $31,000 per year—a position he took solely to maintain legal status, though the company cannot sponsor his H-1B.

“I feel like my dreams are being crushed,” he says, citing repeated rejections from employers unwilling to deal with visa sponsorship. Even earning his E.I.T. (Engineer in Training) license by passing the FE exam hasn’t helped open doors. “Even referrals haven’t helped, purely because of my visa situation.”

His parents have green cards, but current U.S. immigration laws prevent them from sponsoring him now. Financially, he’s struggling—living with his parents to avoid rent, with little left after bills. “Forget going out with friends—I can’t even afford to meet women or date.”

Despite the pressure, he finds solace volunteering for a solar car organization as a mechanical engineer. “It gives me a sense of purpose,” he says, though the emotional weight of his visa status leaves him feeling anxious and empty.

He’s currently exploring three options:

1. Pursuing a Ph.D. in hopes of transitioning into R&D and eventually qualifying for a talent-based visa like the O-1 or National Interest Waiver (NIW).
2. Immigrating to Canada, obtaining permanent residency, and potentially returning to the U.S. under a TN visa.
3. Returning to India to take up work there if a good opportunity arises.

On Reddit, many in similar situations share his anxiety. Some note that visa laws have not caught up with the lived realities of immigrant children who grew up in the U.S. but face legal and professional limbo as adults.

“There are thousands like me—educated in the U.S., working hard, but trapped by a system that treats us as temporary,” he says.