Job hunting or switching jobs on an H1B visa is a nightmare.
That is the reality.
With the constant news cycles, political debates, and emotionally charged narratives around H1B, the environment has become extremely volatile. I’m not going to go deep into the politics of it. Everyone has an opinion, and most of it is noise anyway.
My view is simple.
H1B is a legal visa that allows highly skilled professionals to come and work in the US. It exists because the ecosystem needs it. Is it abused sometimes? Yes, absolutely. I know companies that charge people money to bring them here, drain the soul out of them, and function more like exploitative consultancies than ethical employers.
But in my experience, the majority do not fall into that category.
Most H1B professionals I’ve worked with have been paid at or above market rates. There are mandated baseline wages for each role, and I have not personally seen anyone working closely with me who was underpaid simply because they were on H1B. In fact, many of them are paid extremely well because their skills genuinely justify it.
Now, it is also human nature for people to feel threatened when the size of the pie feels like it’s shrinking. That instinct exists everywhere. In India, we argue over states, language, caste, and region. So when Indians talk about racism or exclusion abroad, it often feels ironic. But I’ll leave that thread here.
A Transaction, Not a Favor
I don’t even think the US has done H1B holders a “favor.”
They created a system with strict conditions and hefty fees. People who qualified made it through. That’s it.
It has always been a two-way street.
You contribute to the American economy.
You pay taxes.
You pay visa fees.
You help build companies and innovation.
In return, you earn well, gain global exposure, build a life, and become part of the social and cultural fabric of this country. It’s not charity. It’s a transaction. A fair one.
Where the Real Problem Lies Today
The biggest challenge now is not the visa itself — it’s the uncertainty around it.
Due to constant political signaling, companies have become hesitant to hire or transfer H1B professionals. What was earlier an uncomfortable process has now become a risky one.
Organizations see H1B hiring as a compliance risk. Tomorrow, a new rule might penalize them for increasing their H1B headcount. Or new conditions may suddenly make their workforce legally vulnerable.
We saw this recently when there was sudden news about H1B fees shooting up to $100,000 and forcing some visa holders to return to their home countries. That announcement caused global panic, only to later be clarified that existing visa holders were not impacted. Damage done. Trust shaken.
For companies, this uncertainty translates into:
“Better safe than sorry.”
For employees, it translates into something far worse.
Living on Fragile Ground
Being on an H1B visa is already a fragile journey.
You live with:
Continuous renewals
Long green card waits (often a lifetime)
Fear of procedural errors
Anxiety of policy changes
Dependence on employer sponsorship
Politics only makes this worse.
You become tied to your employer, not because you want to stay, but because you cannot afford to move. Mobility gets restricted. Opportunities shrink. And in some cases, this creates fertile ground for exploitation.
No professional should feel trapped simply because they chose to contribute to an economy legally and ethically.
My Perspective After 13 Years
I’ve been in the US for 13 years.
And I have never felt that the US government owes me anything.
I came here by choice. I followed the rules of the land. I respected the system. I benefited from it, and I gave back more than my share through work, taxes, and contribution.
But I sincerely believe programs like H1B should be simpler, clearer, and more humane.
If the country wants to abolish the program and Congress believes that is in the nation’s best interest — fine. That is their prerogative. But don’t use H1B professionals as political chess pieces. Don’t destabilize lives to score vote points.
Let people do the bigger and better things they are capable of. Make movement easier. Make portability simpler. Let talent flow where it is most productive.
A Thought That Keeps Coming Back
My personal opinion — and I have held this for years — is simple:
Anyone who has spent more than 10 years in the US on an H1B, remained compliant, paid taxes, and met all legal thresholds, should be granted permanent residency.
These are not temporary placeholders anymore. These are people who have built companies, raised families, driven innovation, and strengthened the economy. Making their life easier would not weaken America. It would multiply its potential.
This is not about entitlement.
This is about logic, stability, and long-term national interest.
And more importantly — it’s about basic human dignity.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell me what you think?