A viral Reddit post by a young data analyst has shed light on the precarious reality faced by many international graduates in the United States who rely on employers to sponsor their H-1B visas. The post details a heartbreaking experience in which a verbal promise of sponsorship was suddenly withdrawn by a Salt Lake City-based dental implant company just a day before the H-1B lottery deadline.
The Redditor, who was on Optional Practical Training (OPT), said they joined the company with clear assurances that the employer would handle their H-1B visa filing. However, repeated follow-ups were met with delays and vague explanations, culminating in a sudden conversation with their manager the day before the deadline. “Literally the day before the lottery closed, my manager told me the company had decided not to sponsor after all,” they wrote. The next morning, the employee and employer mutually agreed to part ways.
The post has resonated widely with the immigrant community, particularly Indian students on STEM OPT, who get a limited window to stay and work legally in the U.S. after graduation. The user now has just 90 days to find a new job and secure H-1B sponsorship to avoid deportation. “DMs are open, and even a few words of wisdom would help,” the post concluded.
Dozens of commenters echoed similar experiences, describing employers who promised H-1B sponsorship only to backtrack or stop communicating altogether. Many criticized the system for allowing such exploitation, especially amid heightened immigration scrutiny under policies linked to the Trump administration.
While international graduates bear the brunt of this uncertainty, immigration authorities often focus on visa recipients rather than investigating the practices of U.S.-based employers. For many, it’s a painful reminder that in the high-stakes world of immigration and employment, even a single missed opportunity can upend entire futures.