Getting my H-1B on the first try felt like 'pure luck.' 4 years later, a layoff meant I had to leave the US.
Soumi Chanda was laid off as debate over a proposed $100,000 H-1B fee intensified. She said that despite having Amazon on her résumé, she got no interviews the following month.
Soumi Chanda was raised in Kolkata and moved to the United States for graduate school, staying for 13 years before returning in 2025 due to layoffs. She secured an H-1B visa on her first attempt, which she described as "pure luck." After Amazon acquired her sponsorship, Chanda was laid off, leaving her with just 60 days to pack up and leave the country.
She had to pay significant expenses to transport her two cats internationally and break her lease. Chanda is now building a pet-sitting brand called Puchki in India, inspired by her own challenges finding reliable pet care in Kolkata. She advises other international students and workers to engage with their university community and to speak confidently about their accomplishments.
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