Indian techie forced to return to India with a $48K loan after failing to secure H-1B visa despite a $200k salary

Highlights:

• NRI techie returned to India after missing the H-1B lottery
• Former salary of $200,000 dropped to zero after relocation
• Indian job market described as highly competitive and difficult
• Tech interviews seen as more advanced than in the US
• Social media users advised lowering salary expectations

Leaving behind the 'American dream' becomes a challenge when you take a loan to study in the US and then earn in dollars, and repay the loan. One such story of a tech worker has surfaced when he was not selected for the H-1B visa lottery. Having taken a loan of $48,000 in India, he had shifted to the US for further scope. But destiny had some other plans.

He shared his plight on Reddit, “Forced return to India (H1B not picked). Struggling with brutal tech interviews.” The user asked others for advice and said they were feeling “overwhelmed” by the challenges and competition.

"My visa expired, and I didn't get picked in the H-1B lottery. My US employer doesn't have an India office, so an internal transfer or remote-from-India setup wasn't an option. I had absolutely no choice but to pack up and move back," the user stated.

Before losing the job, the tech worker said they were earning $200,000 a year. After returning to India, their income suddenly dropped to zero. This change came as a major shock.

"The biggest hurdle right now is the job market here. It is absolutely brutal. The competition is insane, but what caught me completely off guard is the interview difficulty. The level of questions they are asking in Indian tech interviews is way more advanced compared to what I faced in the US," the techie said.

The pressure of preparing for these difficult interviews while managing a large loan has affected their mental peace.

"Is anyone else currently dealing with this, or has anyone successfully survived this forced transition? Any advice, reality checks, or just knowing I'm not alone in this would be highly appreciated. Thanks."

The post quickly gained attention online. Many users responded with advice and shared their views on the situation.

A screenshot of comments below the postReddit

"200k salary? How long did you have your job in the USA? It's surprising that you have a 40L loan even after that," said one user while another added: "You would be lucky to land 15 to 20 LPA at this point. Swallow your international experience and 200k ego and take it."

A third user shared their own experience: "I moved back by choice after clearing my loan in 1.5 yrs. You can't expect salaries like in the US. If you have savings from US, try paying it out month after month. As for job, just get started with any decent job you get in your desired role, don't wait for that big buck opportunity."

Another user advised: "Temper your expectations, forget how much you earned in the US and research how much people with your level of experience are making in your domain and target that level of seniority and have salary expectations as per that level."