She studied at a top U.S. university, works as a senior techie at Google, yet H-1B visa jitters shadow her American dream

For a lot of, a level from an Ivy League college and a profession with world tech giants like Facebook and Google may sound like an ideal ticket to stability in the USA. For Indian-born Surbhi Madan, nonetheless, the story is extra difficult. Regardless of 12 years within the US and practically a decade at Google, she says the uncertainty of her H-1B visa standing continues to form her life in sudden methods.

The 30-year-old senior software program engineer just lately shared her story with Enterprise Insider, providing a candid glimpse into the hidden insecurities behind a glittering résumé.

From Brown College to Large Tech

Madan moved to the US in 2013 to pursue her bachelor’s diploma at Brown College, impressed by her elder brother’s tutorial journey. After interning at Google’s New York workplace, she secured a full-time position earlier than commencement in 2017. Her first stroke of luck got here when she received the H-1B visa lottery on her preliminary try.

“I really feel like I acquired actually fortunate once I evaluate it to the scenario for latest graduates now,” she advised Enterprise Insider.

Her profession path has since been enviable: a stint with Fb’s feed-ranking crew, adopted by management roles in Google Maps infrastructure and AI integrations. However behind the skilled success lies a quieter, extra fragile narrative.

The Weight of Uncertainty

Regardless of working within the US for over a decade, Madan admits that her life usually feels short-term. On a regular basis selections—from condo leases to neighborhood volunteering—are filtered by means of the lens of her visa standing. “I chorus from volunteering as a result of it means contacting my immigration lawyer to verify it’s protected,” she defined. Even driving errors or tax submitting errors, she fears, may jeopardize her keep. A remark by a border officer as soon as drove the purpose dwelling: when she mentioned she “lived” within the US, the officer corrected her, saying, “You don’t stay right here; you’re employed right here.” The second, she mentioned, stayed along with her.

Life Plans on Maintain

The constraints of the H-1B system have an effect on not solely her profession mobility but additionally her private milestones. Madan has contemplated freezing her eggs however anxious about whether or not she may entry them if she misplaced her work authorization. “I can’t think about having an individual rely on me whereas I’m on a brief standing tied to having a job,” she admitted.

Her ambitions past coding additionally face roadblocks. With a ardour for instructing and mentoring women in tech, Madan has considered transitioning into schooling, however her visa doesn’t allow different profession paths exterior her sponsoring employer.

For a lot of immigrants in comparable positions, Surbhi’s expertise underscores the paradox of the American dream: the nation welcomes world expertise however ties their future to the unpredictability of a lottery system.

“I sit down yearly and ask myself if that is nonetheless value it. To this point, the reply has been sure,” Surbhi mentioned.

Her story provides to the rising debate about whether or not the US immigration system can hold tempo with the realities of the fashionable workforce—particularly when even high tech expertise with world-class schooling faces long-term uncertainty.

One other Threat within the Course of

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu just lately highlighted one other threat: the monetary burden of abroad schooling. In a put up on X, he shared the case of a scholar who borrowed ₹70 lakh (about $80,000) at a steep 12% rate of interest to check at a comparatively unknown US college, solely to wrestle repaying the mortgage amid poor job prospects. Vembu urged college students and households to assume twice earlier than taking over such heavy debt, warning that “we must always not entice younger folks in debt within the identify of schooling.”