Indian AI engineer laid off after company moved project to India/Image: Getty Images
An Indian AI engineer on an H-1B visa, who spent around six years in the United States, has said he lost his job after his employer moved the entire project to India, leaving him to decide whether to return home or continue pursuing opportunities abroad.In a post on Reddit, the engineer said he had moved to the US six years ago for a master’s degree before securing a full-time role at a Fortune 500 product company. He said he worked there for more than three years before being laid off after the project was relocated to the company’s India team.Describing the situation as ironic, he wrote, “I’m an AI Engineer, been to the US for master’s 6 years ago, later got a full-time job at a F500 product-based firm, worked there for over 3 years and now got laid off (Job moved to India, the irony I know).”The engineer said he was unable to find another role within the 60-day period available to many H-1B visa holders after losing their jobs. He added that he had since taken a break and was now considering returning to India, although he remained uncertain about the country’s job market.He said another option was to stay in the US by pursuing a PhD or a second master’s degree while continuing to look for employment.According to the post, the engineer is in his early 30s, has cleared his student loans and has more than six years of professional experience, including over three years in India and three years in the US. He said his background includes AI engineering and experience at well-known companies.
Public reactions
The post prompted several responses from other Reddit users, with many encouraging him to explore opportunities in India before committing to another degree.One user suggested approaching the India team that had taken over the project, writing, “Can you get the job in the India team, they would be happy to have someone experienced with the client onsite and knows the project. You can easily ask 40 LPA+ in this situation.”Another user advised him to remain in the US, saying, “Try to stay in the US, The court will rule out most of Trump’s plan in the coming years.”A third user argued that his profile was strong enough for the Indian job market, writing, “Honestly, your profile is stronger than you think. US experience + AI engineering + F500 on resume should have good demand in India. I’d try the job market first before spending years on another degree.”A fourth suggested relocating instead of pursuing further studies, stating, “Visa issues won’t be solved by 2nd masters or PhD. Move to Canada, try getting remote job.”
