Techie returns from US to India with Rs 37 LPA job but is not happy: 'I deeply miss...'

An Indian software specialist recently turned to Reddit to narrate his decision to leave the United States at the very moment his long-awaited immigration process advanced, a confession that resonated deeply with countless professionals entangled in the unforgiving H1B visa maze. His story captured the emotional strain, professional instability, and personal sacrifices that often remain hidden behind the glamour of working abroad.

He explained that he walked away from his role at an American startup due to a deeply unhealthy workplace atmosphere. The environment, he described, was so psychologically damaging that he frequently found himself overwhelmed after office hours, sitting alone in his car in tears. The humiliation he experienced at work steadily chipped away at his self-belief.

His journey to America began in 2022 when he relocated from India on an H1B visa while employed at one of the Big Four firms. Encouraged by informal assurances that a long-term position in the United States would eventually materialize, he structured his future around the idea of permanently settling there. For him, living in America had been a lifelong aspiration, nurtured since childhood.


However, after two years under the H1B arrangement, he was informed that he needed to either secure a different employer in the US or prepare to return to India. Determined not to abandon his dream, he began applying elsewhere. At that time, the only opportunity available was at a small boutique startup, which he accepted despite reservations.

The move proved far more challenging than anticipated. Although the startup initiated his PERM process — the first formal stage toward obtaining permanent residency — daily life at the company became increasingly distressing. The PERM approval eventually arrived after 18 months, but he described that period as the most grueling chapter of his life.

Despite having over eleven years of industry expertise and expecting senior architectural duties, he was confined to routine development tasks. Worse, his sole teammate regularly belittled him, subjecting him to verbal disparagement that steadily eroded his confidence and professional identity.

The organization itself struggled to establish stability. Even after operating for a decade, it lacked a consistent client base and functioned in a perpetual stealth mode. Sales pitches repeatedly failed, expansion stalled, and internal pressure intensified. Over time, he began doubting his own competence.

As conditions worsened, he started exploring alternative roles. Yet the American job market had grown increasingly unforgiving, particularly for visa holders. Securing interviews was difficult, and transitions between employers under the H1B system were far more complex than he had imagined. Many evenings ended with emotional breakdowns in his parked car before driving home.

After a year and a half of emotional depletion, he broadened his search to include opportunities in India. Eventually, he received two offers: one from the US with a compensation package of $124,000 annually, and another from India offering ₹37 lakh per year. Exhausted and mentally drained, he chose to return home.

Ironically, the same day he submitted his resignation, confirmation arrived that his PERM had been approved. PERM, formally known as Program Electronic Review Management, represents the labor certification stage and is the gateway toward a green card, which grants permanent residence in the United States.

By then, however, he felt he had reached his limit. Continuing would have required waiting for I-140 approval and completing the mandatory 180-day employment period. The thought of enduring another year in that environment felt unbearable. He decided to relinquish the green card pathway and relocate to India.

Today, he works as a Senior Architect at a major services company in India, where he leads teams, shapes enterprise-level strategies, and feels valued. His stress has significantly diminished, and his professional stature has been restored.

Yet despite the stability and respect he now enjoys, a quiet ache persists. He misses the American way of life and wonders whether walking away was premature. He often reflects on whether enduring a little longer might have secured the future he once envisioned. Though he feels calmer in India, a lingering sense of incompletion shadows his peace.