Posted on 10/03/2025 10:42:54 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 33-year-old Shreya Mishra Reddy, a technical program manager at Visa based in Austin. Business Insider has verified Reddy's employment, immigration status, and unsuccessful H-1B attempts. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I never dreamed of living in the US. I grew up in India and wanted to stay close to my parents.
In December 2021, I moved to the States for a Master's program in engineering management at Duke University. After I graduated in 2022, I got a job at Visa as a technical program manager in 2023.
I wanted to keep working and studying in the US, but I tried to get a H-1B visa three times and was unsuccessful.
When I read about the Trump administration's plans to introduce a $100,000 fee for employers sponsoring new H-1B petitions, it felt like my situation was getting worse and worse.
My student work authorization, which allows me to be employed in the US, is expiring in January. I planned to return to India and reapply for an H-1B, but with the new $100,000 fee, it feels like there's no hope left.
Before moving to the US, I worked at Tata Consultancy Services in Bengaluru for five and a half years. I was happy with my career, but I wanted to add to my professional profile by studying abroad. I was inspired by colleagues and schoolmates who moved to Europe and the US, and I was so happy that I was accepted by Duke, an Ivy Plus school.
I went to the US on an F-1 student visa. As a STEM student, I could spend an additional three years in the US through Optional Practical Training, which is a type of work authorization.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
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Whaaaaa.
Yeah, my dream of being a pro QB got dashed too. Life goes on.
That's pretty quick for a masters degree program!
Americans have American Dreams too.
Visa should be doing its due diligence in keeping foreigners out of our personal finances and related information.
350 million is enough, any more and we will become a 3rd world country.
Let employer pay
Poor girl is thinking about it all wrong - NOW is when her INDIA DREAM gets to take off and flourish!
Gee, golly - I’m so happy for her that this AMAZING OPPORTUNITY to grow in her own culture is finally coming true for her!
The tears, tears of joy!
Oh no.
Maybe he will just need to make India a better place with his talents.
Then get your tawny butt back to your own country, Apu.
A foreigners American dream ends.
An American’s American dream begins.
Welcome to MAGA!
May the American dreams of millions of foreigners likewise end!
You can stay provided you send a Leftist American in your place.
Delighted to hear it. Leave.
Good!
Riddance.
If anyone wants the American dream, there is a clear path to becoming an American citizen.
When these people are such of their open sewer countries, they can come here.
Exactly. India needs her!
It’s wrong for America to strip mine human capital from other nations.
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