The US administration led by Donald Trump has stepped up scrutiny of the visa process, leaving several people in a state of anxiety and fear. “Visa stress is brutal and real,” but the redditor advised Indians not to move back to escape “visa anxiety.” “Please stop and reconsider,” he added.
A Redditor who was in the US recently moved to India and is now regretting his decision. Uncertainty surrounding renewal, timelines, lawyers and waiting periods were factors that pushed him to make the decision, as he thought moving back to his hometown would bring peace and emotional well-being. However, his experience turned out to be much more difficult than expected.
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I made a big mistake
“I made a big mistake that I’m very sorry for. Yes, US visa stress is real. But I massively underestimated what I was giving up and overestimated how much ‘home’ would make up for it,” the user wrote.
The user further outlined some of the daily challenges in India, which they say feel more draining after years spent abroad. These included air and noise pollution, littering in public spaces, lack of civic sense, chaotic traffic and bureaucracy that makes you “feel powerless and small”. The user added that the persistent impairment and inefficiency lead to mental fatigue that “never really turns off.”
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“Also, the social side was surprisingly worse than I expected. Relatives are extremely nosy. There is zero concept of personal boundaries. Everyone wants to know your salary, marriage plans, why you’re not doing XYZ, and feel entitled to comment on your life choices. It’s suffocating if you value privacy or independence,” the post read.
The user also questioned the common story of NRIs returning home. While many people publicly say they are happy to be back, the user claimed that private conversations often reveal a very different reality.
“Many of them admit they regret it too. They just don’t say it out loud because of family pressure, ego or fear of admitting they made the wrong call,” the post claimed.
“I’m not saying the US is perfect. Visa stress is brutal and real. But if you’re thinking of moving back to India just to avoid visa anxiety, stop and reconsider. You might be trading one kind of stress for a much harder, more permanent one. If you’ve been abroad for a long time, you’ve probably changed more than you realize. India hasn’t changed at the same rate,” the user concluded. Here is the link to the viral post
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Here’s how social media users reacted:
The post garnered a number of reactions. Here are some of the responses:
One Reddit user commented: “Everyone is so used to it that no one sees it as a problem. No one cares where their tax money goes.”
“Weird. I also moved back to India after living in the US and Canada for 10 years and honestly, I feel great. The only difference is that I earned much more than what I earn here now, but I have peace of mind. The complaints you make seem to be your personal problem because we as Indians are used to it – nosy people, pollution, noise, etc., it was best if you grew up and you have grown up a part of my life in India. great, I can visit my friends, relatives and parents whenever I want, check on them and experience the little joys in life like meeting old friends and being myself without posing and doing anything,” commented another.
“India is good if you can earn well and use your already deducted money to get the equipment you should get from tax money,” wrote a third user.
