Why I gave up on getting an H-1B visa
Shreya Mishra Reddy had set her sights set on working in the US but pivoted after Trump proposed changes to the H-1B visa application.
In September 2025, President Trump introduced a proposal that would significantly impact the H-1B visa application process, introducing a $100,000 fee for new petitions. This change has sent ripples through the immigration landscape, affecting employers, employees, and visa hopefuls alike. Indian national Shreya Mishra Reddy, who graduated with a master's in engineering management from Duke University in 2021, found herself adversely affected by this proposal.
After learning that potential employers would now have to bear a hefty fee to hire her, she decided to abandon her plans of working and living in the US. Reddy is among the many individuals Business Insider has interviewed, shedding light on the struggles faced by those caught in the chaos of the H-1B visa system. Some have chosen to navigate the system, while others have decided to cut their losses and leave the country.
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