An Indian financial analyst in the United States has opened up about his difficult experience after being laid off while on an H-1B visa.
In a Reddit post, the man said he has been job hunting for the last three months after losing his job, calling the experience “brutal.” He claimed that he is a senior financial analyst with more than six years of experience in the semiconductor and hardware finance sectors, including a stint at AMD.
“Got laid off about three months ago. Since then, I’ve been grinding through applications in the US, and it’s been brutal. But honestly, the job search isn’t even the hardest part right now,” he wrote.
However, the authenticity of his claims could not be independently verified.
The Redditor said his wife is currently in India and had applied for an H-4 dependent visa after his H-1B visa was extended until 2031. However, her visa application was rejected.
“Just like that. We’ve been long-distance for almost two years now, and this was supposed to be the thing that finally gets us together. It didn’t happen. Sitting alone in my apartment and applying to jobs every day while she’s on the other side of the world — I won’t lie, it’s getting to me,” he wrote.
Considering A Return To India
The man said he is now thinking about moving back to India. He stressed that returning home should not be seen as a failure, but as a decision based on his current life situation.
He said he has several questions about the Indian job market and is unsure whom to approach for guidance.
Among the questions he raised were whether US experience is truly valued in India, which cities would be suitable for his profile, and whether he should start applying from the US or wait until he returns to India.
His Qualifications
According to the post, the man holds a valid H-1B visa until 2031. He has a master’s degree in Quantitative Finance with a GPA of 3.79 and an MBA in Finance.
He also claimed to be certified in Oracle Cloud and to have experience with SAP. He said he is targeting opportunities in semiconductors, AI infrastructure, BFSI and multinational companies with operations in India.
“I’m not looking for sympathy. I’m looking for people who have actually been through this. What would you do differently? What worked? What didn’t?” he wrote.
He also asked those who had returned from the US to India in the last two to three years, especially in finance, analytics or tech, to share their experiences.
Netizens React
Several Reddit users responded to his post, with many focusing on his claim that his H-1B visa is valid until 2031.
“Hey man, out of curiosity, how can H-1B be valid until 2031? Even if you get an extension this year, it would be valid until 2029 max. Am I missing something? Is this your first H-1B?” one user asked.
Another commented, “How did you get H-1B till 2031? Isn’t H-1B extended only for three years? Anyway, that’s not the point of your post. Best of luck for your journey in India.”
Another user advised him that he could expect a salary in the range of Rs 20-30 lakh per annum in India with his experience.
“Pune is the best for the BFSI sector. You’ll have enough interview calls, brother. You don’t have to worry about getting lowballed in India. The most difficult part in your experience range is clearing interviews because India has beast-level competition. After all, India is home,” the user wrote.
The post has once again highlighted the emotional and professional uncertainty faced by many Indian professionals in the US amid layoffs, visa complications and family separation.
