This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Disha Lamba, 28, who lives in Gurugram, India. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I was born and raised in India. As an introvert, I liked being in my comfort zone, but my dad dreamed of sending me to the US for my master’s.
His friends’ children went to the UK and the US and achieved so much. He wanted the same for me. In 2021, at 23, I went to NYU for a master’s in computer engineering. I’d only seen New York in movies, but I quickly fell in love with it.
I had a great life in the US, but decided to move back in May 2026, primarily to be closer to family. I also wasn’t OK with the restrictions that come with the H-1B visa.
New York transformed me
I owe a lot of my current personality to my five years in New York. Managing things on my own in a new environment made me really ambitious. I became more confident and had a high sense of individuality. In India, I never thought about traveling to another part of the country, and I didn’t realize I loved hiking before coming to the US.
America exposed me to opportunities. In India, while studying information technology at undergrad, I was interested in data science, but lacked the confidence to pursue it. At NYU, I had good professors who spoon-fed me information about machine learning and data science, which really helped.
New York is a hub for conferences and meetups, and I attended many. At one event, I met a senior data scientist at CVS Health, who encouraged me to apply to his company. I landed a data scientist role there in 2024.
The job market was rough around that time, and a few of my friends moved to other countries because they couldn’t find jobs or secure visa sponsorship.
Living away from family was hard
CVS sponsored my H-1B visa, and I was informed that I was selected in the lottery in March 2026. However, my plan had always been to eventually return to India, and by that point, I’d already decided.
I had a great life in the US — I was happy with my job and social life, and I had a six-figure salary, but I felt lonely.
When the clock hit 5 p.m., there wasn’t anyone around to ask me how my day was. I had friends, but friends can’t be your family. I kept having to organize my video calls with my mom — who’s my best friend — around the time difference.
I missed my family and realized I was much happier and content around them. I wanted to be there for big celebrations and support my parents during good and bad times. I feared being far away if something bad happened.
My second reason for wanting to move back was the visa restrictions. Once you’re on an H-1B, you need a new visa stamp to travel and return to the US, and getting a stamping appointment in India can be a pain. Since the H-1B is generally granted in three-year increments, I felt there’d be a lot of ongoing visa management.
The H-1B can also make it harder to change employers, pursue additional income streams, or take a career break.
The H-1B visa has its pros, but I wasn’t OK with the cons.
I’m exploring options in India
I resigned from CVS and flew home to Gurugram, a satellite city southwest of New Delhi, to live with my parents and brother. I liked working in the healthcare industry, where I felt I could make an impact, and I liked my team and manager. I questioned my decision because I felt I was giving up a lot to move home.
In India, I can choose to build a startup, change employers, and do a side hustle without worrying about visa restrictions. I decided to take a two-month career break when I returned to India, relying on savings. It’s a luxury that comes from not being on an employment visa.
I haven’t got a job offer in hand yet, but I think India offers similar career opportunities to the US. Big companies like EY, Mastercard, and American Express have offices near me.
I’m embracing the little things
I miss certain things about the US. I used to love walking around after work and staring at the New York skyline, but where I am now, the sidewalks aren’t as walkable, and the public parks aren’t as clean.
But at home in India, we have house help, which means I don’t have to cook or clean, so I have more time to pursue my passions. If you’re earning well, you can live comfortably here.
I still get anxious about whether I made the right decision, but getting to hug my parents every morning reminds me it was worth it. Our family starts the day with a chat over a cup of green tea. The little things we take for granted are also the things that matter.
Business Insider confirmed she was employed by CVS. CVS declined to respond to a request for comment.
A State Department spokesperson told Business Insider, “Our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else.”
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