A Reddit post has gone viral after a social media user shared a heart-wrenching account of their H-1B visa journey, spotlighting the uncertainty faced by foreign professionals navigating US immigration and corporate hurdles.
In the post, the user—currently on their final year of STEM OPT (Optional Practical Training)—shared the emotional rollercoaster of being selected in the 2025 H-1B lottery, only to be informed shortly after that their employer would no longer sponsor the visa due to budget cuts and company restructuring.
“The absolute most insane thing happened to me… I get told by HR that I am selected in lottery!!!!!!” the user wrote. “Only to be told that… the board put a stop on sponsoring.” Despite working at the company for over two years and making a “serious impact,” the user now faces the possibility of job loss and forced departure from the U.S.
The post detailed the user’s desperate efforts to convince leadership, even offering to cover legal fees or accept a pay cut. “All of a sudden no sponsorship—AFTER I GOT SELECTED?!” the user exclaimed, adding that they have just 10 months left on their STEM OPT. “If they do not sponsor, and also fire me, no one is going to hire me with that little time left.”
The story struck a chord with others facing similar situations. “Same thing is happening with me,” one user commented. Another advised, “Ask them if you can pay the legal fees. That is a big win. Once you get the H-1B, you are set.”
Some users encouraged seeking new employers before October, suggesting that transferring the yet-to-be-activated H-1B petition could still be an option.
The post reflects the deep stress and unpredictability surrounding the H-1B process—a system that many depend on to build careers and lives in the U.S., only to face sudden roadblocks even after clearing the toughest hurdle: the lottery.