After 11 years on an H-1B visa, I still miss my family back home. Here’s why I stay in the US.
Abhradeep Chatterjee shares what it has been like living on an H-1B visa, including missing an uncle's funeral and a cousin's wedding.
Abhradeep Chatterjee has been living in the US on an H-1B visa for 11 years. He moved to New Jersey for a Tata Consultancy Services assignment and has since built a career in the US. His wife, who moved on an H-4 dependent visa, had to wait four years before gaining work authorization. Despite the uncertainty of his visa status, Chatterjee is staying in the US due to the professional opportunities it provides for him and his family.
His daughter, born in the US, has access to better educational opportunities, and they have built a life with friends, a home, and dogs. However, Chatterjee misses his family in India, especially his aging parents, and has not visited them in over a decade. He is working toward an employer-sponsored green card, with a 2018 priority date, but expects the wait to be several more years. Despite the challenges, he remains hopeful for a brighter future in the US for his family.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
