Free Republic

The United States has long been seen as a land of opportunity, where ambition and hard work promise professional growth and personal freedom. But for international students and professionals, that promise can be fragile, shaped by visa rules, corporate decisions, and global economic uncertainty. Ananya Joshi, an Indian biotechnology graduate, recently became the human face of this precarious reality. After earning her master’s degree at Northwestern University in 2024, she began her career under the F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme at a biotech start-up. But a sudden company-wide downsizing left her unemployed, and with her OPT period nearing its...

The US Chamber of Commerce is reportedly considering to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration after announcing a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B visa. The move has sparked concerns among Indian and other foreign nationals working in the US economy that relies heavily on H-1B visa. According to a Bloomberg report, officials with the country’s largest business lobby polled member companies to test support for a lawsuit. The report cites people familiar with the conversations who, on the condition of anonymity, said that the group sought feedback from corporations on potential litigation during a series of phone calls and...

The 'American Dream' is often described as the belief that anyone can succeed in the United States through perseverance and hard work. For Ananya Joshi, an Indian woman, that promise fell short. She bid a teary-eyed farewell to the country after failing to secure stable employment. In a conversation with NDTV, Joshi explained that she was on an F-1 visa when she was laid off. She had joined a company during her Optional Practical Training (OPT) period, but they later informed her that they would not sponsor her visa. "At that time I did not panic because I knew I...

US Senator Charles Grassley and Richard J. Durbin has sent a letter to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for hiring thousands of H-1B visa workers in the country while conducting ‘massive layoffs’ globally. The letter, dated September 24, 2025 is addressed to TCS CEO Krithi Krithivasan raises concerns about “troubling employment trends” in the tech industry. It quotes a Wall Street Journal report pointing at the tech sector’s unemployment rate, which is “well above” the overall jobless rate. The letter asks the Indian IT firm that while it has announced to lay off 12,000 employees worldwide, “you have been filing H-1B...

For decades, the “American Dream” has inspired people from around the globe. But the reality of chasing it often turns out to be far more complicated. That struggle recently came into sharp focus after an emotional farewell video by an Indian woman went viral, resonating deeply with international students and professionals who face similar challenges. Ananya Joshi, who completed her master’s in Biotechnology from Northwestern University in 2024, started her career in the US on an F-1 OPT visa at a biotech start-up. But when the company downsized, she lost her job. With her visa period running out and the...