Woman won H-1B, left US 2 months later; explains

Disha Lamba, a 28-year-old data scientist from India, secured an H-1B visa to work in the United States in 2024. However, just two months after receiving the visa, she chose to return to her home country, Gurugram. In an interview with Business Insider, Lamba explained that while she enjoyed her six-figure salary and fulfilling job in New York, she missed her family and found the restrictions of the H-1B visa limiting.

She noted that without anyone to interact with after work hours, she felt the visa's limitations weighed heavily on her personal life. Upon returning to Gurugram, she moved in with her family and took a two-month break from work to explore new opportunities without the constraints of an employment visa. Lamba emphasized that the H-1B visa, despite its advantages, comes with limitations such as difficulty changing employers, pursuing multiple income streams, and taking career breaks.

She also highlighted the challenges of visa stamping when traveling internationally. This decision reflects a growing trend among Indian professionals who are reevaluating the traditional US career path, considering alternatives like permanent residency through the EB-5 investor visa or weighing the implications of proposed changes to H-4 work authorization.