H-1B Visa: 12 Years of Opportunity, Yet a Life of Uncertainty

The H-1B Visa: A Double-Edged Sword for Career Growth and Personal Stability

Surbhi Madan, a 30-year-old senior software engineer at Google, has spent the last 12 years in the United States on an H-1B visa. This visa has opened doors for her career, allowing her to grow into a leadership role within one of the world’s most influential tech companies. However, it also comes with a sense of uncertainty that affects nearly every aspect of her life.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. For many professionals like Surbhi, it represents a pathway to opportunity. But for others, it brings a constant undercurrent of anxiety about the future.

A Journey to the U.S. and Early Career Steps

Surbhi first came to the U.S. in 2013 to pursue a bachelor's degree at Brown University. She was inspired by her older brother, who had studied in the U.S. and appreciated the educational system. College was a big cultural shift, especially when it came to the weather on the East Coast. Still, she embraced the experience of building an independent life, exploring new hobbies, and connecting with people from around the world.

During her time at college, she didn’t seriously consider what her long-term future might look like in the U.S. That changed when she interned at Google’s New York office during the summer and received a full-time offer just before graduating. She began the process for Optional Practical Training and successfully secured her H-1B visa in the lottery on her first try.

At the time, the odds of being selected in the H-1B lottery were about one in three. While that probability hasn’t changed much since she applied in 2017, the job market she entered felt more favorable. Companies were hiring and willing to sponsor H-1B applications. Surbhi feels lucky compared to recent graduates, who now face a more competitive environment.

Seeking Long-Term Stability

Over the past eight years, Surbhi has grown into a senior software engineer at Google. She’s currently in a phase of her life where she’s thinking about long-term stability—exploring leadership roles and even considering a career change.

She has always been passionate about teaching. In college, she served as a teaching assistant and continues to volunteer for initiatives focused on women in tech. She’s thought about transitioning into a teaching career or combining it with a full-time job. However, the H-1B visa doesn’t allow for such flexibility. It ties her employment to her employer, limiting her ability to explore other opportunities.

Despite enjoying her work, there’s a constant pressure to perform well. Her success is the only thing she can control, while external factors like economic shifts and layoffs in the tech industry remain out of her hands.

Living with Uncertainty

Surbhi has lived in the U.S. for 12 years, but she still feels like an outsider. Her experiences are different from those of her friends who are U.S. citizens. She avoids certain activities, like volunteering for local causes, because she needs to consult her immigration lawyer first to ensure it won't jeopardize her status.

She also lives with a heightened sense of caution. Every decision, whether it’s driving or filing taxes, carries weight. She worries about making mistakes that could threaten her stay in the country.

This uncertainty extends to her personal life. She has considered egg freezing as an option, but the idea of retrieving the eggs later under a temporary visa status is not appealing. She imagines herself returning to the U.S. on a tourist visa, which feels impractical and risky. She also questions whether she could be a reliable parent while on a visa tied to her job.

Reflections and Resilience

Once a year, Surbhi takes time to reflect on her journey. She evaluates her experiences over the past few years, considers the anxiety she feels about the future, and asks herself if this path is still worth it. So far, the answer has been yes.

On days when the uncertainty feels overwhelming, she tries to focus on the things she can control. She also benefits from a financial cushion, which is a result of working in tech for eight years in the U.S.

For many, the H-1B visa is a stepping stone toward permanent residency or citizenship. For Surbhi, it remains a complex mix of opportunity and instability—a reality that shapes not only her career but also her personal decisions and sense of belonging.