A mid-career software professional from India has shared a heartbreaking account on Reddit after realizing that rising H-1B visa fees and stricter immigration rules have put his dream of working in the United States on hold. The engineer, from a low-income family, had long envisioned building a career abroad to support his family and achieve financial security.
The Dream of a Better Life
“I always thought I could work hard, build my skills, and eventually the world would reward me. For me, that world was the United States. Since I was a kid, I watched videos of clean streets, skyscrapers, tech culture, movies, and everything that felt like the future. I used to smile silently to myself thinking one day I would be there, part of that life, part of that energy. It felt magical,” he said.
He added that even modest earnings in the US could significantly improve his family’s standard of living. “I imagined surviving on the bare minimum, living like a nobody, and saving everything I could. Even saving two to four thousand dollars a month would change my life and my family’s life forever. That’s 2.5 lakh rupees here. Ten years of work there, and I could return home, build a house, buy a car, give my family a life I dreamed of since childhood.”
H1B Fees and Stricter Rules Stand in the Way
The engineer said the new hurdles feel like a personal loss. “Immigration rules are getting stricter. Companies are under pressure. H1B fees and restrictions make it almost impossible for someone like me. The environment I admired, the streets I admired, the work culture, the life I thought I could be part of, feels like it’s being taken away. I feel powerless,” he wrote.
He also reflected on the emotional toll of seeing a lifelong dream slip away. “It is strange, because this dream shaped everything about me. The late nights learning code, the sacrifices I made quietly, the tiny decisions I thought were meaningless, they all pointed to this. And now it feels like I have nothing. I feel a strange emptiness, like the future I imagined has evaporated while I was working toward it.”
Seeking Advice from Those Who’ve Been There
The Reddit post concluded with a plea for guidance. “I know this sounds like a mix of life story and rant, but I’m hoping to hear from people who actually know the tech world. If you’ve made it abroad, navigated visas, or just figured out how to turn coding and skills into real opportunities, I would really appreciate your advice. What would you do if your dream felt like it was slipping away? Is there a smarter way to approach this, or a path I’m not seeing? I’m ready to work hard, grind, and adapt, I just need some guidance from people who’ve been there.”
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