A Reddit post by a 27-year-old Indian student describing his difficult journey in the US has gone viral online, reigniting the debate about overseas education, visa hurdles and the reality of working abroad.
In the post, the user said he moved to the US in August 2022 to pursue a master’s degree, which he completed in December 2023. Despite months of actively looking for work since February 2024, he claimed he had been unable to secure employment and was now preparing to return to India.
According to the user, lack of effort was not the challenge. He said he applied for more than 30 jobs a day and attended several interviews, but was repeatedly turned down due to visa restrictions. Employers, he wrote, cited the need for sponsorship or ineligibility related to his visa status as reasons for rejection.
Check out the viral post here:
The post resonated with many Indian students and professionals, who see it as a reflection of broader issues facing international graduates in the US. Several users responded by sharing similar experiences, pointing to a slowdown in hiring in the tech sector, stricter immigration policies and companies’ reluctance to sponsor work visas amid economic uncertainty.
One user wrote: “You can do everything right and still fail. That’s life. Sorry man. Lots of amazing things happening in India though.”
Another user wrote: “There is a massive surplus of white collar workers in first world countries due to offshoring (ironically to India), layoffs (arrival of AI and the like) and the knock on effect of a large influx of international students (like you) who were pumped in to prop up these economies post-Covid. There just aren’t enough jobs for all the people looking and spending for cheaper money in local companies. Just bad timing, especially combined with the massive anti-migration sentiments in most of these countries.
Others urged prospective students to more carefully consider the financial and emotional costs of studying abroad. Some commentators have argued that the promise of global exposure and high-paying jobs is often at odds with market realities, particularly during downturns. Several users also emphasized that the return to India should not be seen as a failure, noting the growing opportunities in India’s startup and enterprise ecosystems.
“Sometimes you can do everything right and it’s not just the right place, time, etc. It’s best to make the move early in your career and have time to do well in India. Imagine going through visa hell for the next 15-20 years until you get your green card. Don’t overthink it, cut your losses and be excited about the next third step in your career.”
“The green card is not the goal. The goal is to make money and invest, live well, socialize, maintain health, learn integrity. In case h1b people have to go back to India, these are things they can actually take home,” wrote a fourth.
(This report is based on user-generated content from social media. Livemint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.)