The H-1B dream usually ends at a US airport immigration counter. For one 28-year-old Indian tech professional, it stopped at a spreadsheet.An Indian tech professional says her life has been on hold for nearly a year and a half — despite having her H-1B visa approved and stamped — after a sudden change in client leadership derailed previously agreed travel plans.
The woman received her H-1B visa approval and stamping in November 2025, expecting to finally relocate to the United States after months of uncertainty. According to her account, the client head had initially approved her travel, but a leadership change upended that plan. “The earlier client head who had agreed to my travel moved out, and the new head doesn’t want to approve it because they don’t want to increase billing costs,” she said.
While her employer is attempting to persuade the client, she remains stuck in India, continuing to work night shifts aligned with US hours for the same client — a situation she says has already stretched on for nearly 18 months.The prolonged uncertainty has taken a personal toll. “I’m unable to plan my marriage or even begin looking for a groom because I don’t know where I’ll be based,” she said. “My career and personal life are both stuck.”Recently, several H-1B holders are sharing their experiences since the new changes came, disrupting their lives. Recently a user shared that they can’t go for holidays anywhere because not received the final approval.
