The changes to the H-1B visa system by the Trump administration have caused a lot of confusion and despair. With the new $100,000 fee for employers, many people are now questioning whether the American dream is still within reach.
In the middle of all this, a former H-1B visa worker shared his story on social media about his experience of leaving the US and returning to India.
‘I don’t regret it all’
In 2008, during the peak of the US recession, he moved to the US for his Master’s degree. Despite the economic uncertainty and doubts from others, he managed to secure a job before graduation.
By 2010, he was on an H-1B visa, slowly carving out a career path. Over the next decade, he steadily grew within a Big 4 firm, taking on increasingly challenging roles.
However, by 2020, he was burnt out, juggling four projects while being the sole earner in the family, as his wife had just completed her own Master’s program.
The stress of managing projects during the pandemic weighed heavily on him. By Thanksgiving 2020, after months of feeling overwhelmed, he made a life-changing decision. With his wife’s full support, he decided to leave the US and return to India.
He resigned from his job, sold his house, and walked away with savings between $650K–700K. The next few months were spent doing little more than playing video games and relaxing from the stressful life.
Then, after four months of what felt like a lost pause, an old professional contact reached out. This reconnection soon turned into something much bigger.
He took on a project that quickly blossomed into a thriving consulting business. His contact had also started his own firm around the same time, and the two of them found ways to collaborate and create synergies that accelerated their growth.
Fast forward four years, and he had not only rebuilt his career but doubled his net worth to $1.4 million. He was living in a Tier-2 city near his parents, enjoying the peace and closeness of family life.
His business was booming, employing 10 people, and he had also diversified into passive income streams, owning businesses like a salon and a massage equipment company.
Looking back, he could not believe how far he had come. Life was fulfilling, the weight of burnout was a distant memory, and his financial situation was stronger than ever. India, with all its challenges and adjustments, had proven to be an incredible place for growth.
The initial fears of moving back faded quickly, and the rewards both personal and financial, made it all worthwhile. He was finally living the life he had always dreamed of, and he knew he was better off for having taken the leap.
“If you have savings and are considering a move back to India, don’t be afraid. Yes, there will be adjustments, but they will fade, and the growth potential is immense,” he wrote.
‘Once a great person said: earn in dollars, spend in rupees…’
Netizens posted their opinion on the post. A user noted, “Once a great person said: earn in dollars, spend in rupees…” Another asked, “You don’t miss the clean streets, good infrastructure, green open spaces and clean air? Also general discipline in the streets and no honking?.”
“Mostly people are not high achievers like you. You have a magic wand, whatever you touch turns to gold, but for most people whatever they touch will burn their fingers,” claimed a user.
“I pray that every Indian returns to India just like you did! Well done!,” stated a user.
“$1.4M net worth is hardly a big sum. One needs at least $4M in net worth to resettle in their home country (where the exchange rate to the US dollar favors them). You left way too soon. Also, you conveniently left out the part about “how” you doubled your net worth. Odds are, you were invested in the US stock market and it is probably still growing even now,” opined a netizen.
(This story is based on a post shared by a social media user. The details, opinions, and statements quoted herein belong solely to the original poster and do not reflect the views of Financialexpress.com. We have not independently verified the claims.)