The United States has long been a magnet for ambitious professionals seeking education and career opportunities. But recent policy shifts are testing that promise. The Trump administration’s proposal to impose a $100,000 fee on employers sponsoring new H-1B visa petitions could drastically reduce opportunities for international workers. For Shreya Mishra Reddy, an Indian engineer and Duke University graduate, who spoke to Business Insider, the announcement has made an already uncertain future even more daunting.
From Bengaluru to the United States: A journey of ambition
Shreya grew up in India and never envisioned living in the US long-term. “I wanted to stay close to my parents,” she says. Yet the prospect of expanding her academic and professional horizons led her to move to the United States in December 2021 for a Master’s program in engineering management at Duke University. After graduating in 2022, she joined Visa as a technical program manager in 2023, eager to continue contributing while learning in one of the world’s leading technology hubs.
Her path, however, was constrained by the H-1B visa lottery, the system that allows a limited number of foreign professionals to gain work authorization in the US. Despite her credentials, including five and a half years at Tata Consultancy Services in Bengaluru, a leadership program at Harvard Business School, and advanced degrees from Duke, Shreya was unsuccessful in securing an H-1B visa three consecutive times.
The impact of the $100K fee
The proposed $100,000 fee for employers sponsoring new H-1B petitions has compounded the uncertainty. “With the new $100K H-1B fee, it feels like there’s no hope left,” Shreya told Business Insider. The announcement came at a time when her student work authorization, which allowed her to remain employed in the US, is set to expire in January 2026. “I had planned to return to India and reapply, but now the financial barrier seems insurmountable,” she said.
Shreya’s experience underscores a larger dilemma for international students and workers in the US. Her efforts to secure an H-1B visa were consistently thwarted by the randomness of the lottery system. “I thought I was mentally prepared to consider leaving the States, but I broke down in the office when I saw the results,” she recalled. The uncertainty has forced her to confront difficult questions about her professional future and personal ambitions.
Weighing opportunities abroad and at home
Shreya is now exploring alternatives beyond the United States. She plans to seek employment in India, where the growing startup ecosystem offers new possibilities. “With my experience from Harvard, Duke, and Visa, I think I have a much stronger resume to take to India or elsewhere,” she said. She is also considering other countries that might offer professional pathways, though she acknowledges that relocating is never straightforward.
Her story is emblematic of a broader trend. The rising cost of H-1B fees and tighter immigration policies are prompting skilled professionals to reconsider the United States as a long-term destination. For many international students and workers, the once-linear path of study, work, and eventual settlement in the US is increasingly uncertain.
A bittersweet farewell
Despite the challenges, Shreya does not view her American dream as a failure. “I have really loved my time in the US. Whatever the country promised me, it delivered on,” she said. Her years in the US have offered education at top institutions, career advancement, and the chance to contribute meaningfully to the tech industry. Yet, she recognizes that the landscape is changing. “It would only make sense to study here if you are prepared to leave after your student work authorization expires, should you not get an H-1B,” she observed.
For Shreya Mishra Reddy, the conclusion of her US chapter is both reflective and pragmatic. The experience has fortified her skills and professional profile, equipping her to navigate opportunities in India or elsewhere. At the same time, her story highlights the human impact of immigration policies and the fragility of the so-called American dream in a time of tightened borders and rising costs.
From Bengaluru to the United States: A journey of ambition
Shreya grew up in India and never envisioned living in the US long-term. “I wanted to stay close to my parents,” she says. Yet the prospect of expanding her academic and professional horizons led her to move to the United States in December 2021 for a Master’s program in engineering management at Duke University. After graduating in 2022, she joined Visa as a technical program manager in 2023, eager to continue contributing while learning in one of the world’s leading technology hubs.
Her path, however, was constrained by the H-1B visa lottery, the system that allows a limited number of foreign professionals to gain work authorization in the US. Despite her credentials, including five and a half years at Tata Consultancy Services in Bengaluru, a leadership program at Harvard Business School, and advanced degrees from Duke, Shreya was unsuccessful in securing an H-1B visa three consecutive times.
The impact of the $100K fee
The proposed $100,000 fee for employers sponsoring new H-1B petitions has compounded the uncertainty. “With the new $100K H-1B fee, it feels like there’s no hope left,” Shreya told Business Insider. The announcement came at a time when her student work authorization, which allowed her to remain employed in the US, is set to expire in January 2026. “I had planned to return to India and reapply, but now the financial barrier seems insurmountable,” she said.
Shreya’s experience underscores a larger dilemma for international students and workers in the US. Her efforts to secure an H-1B visa were consistently thwarted by the randomness of the lottery system. “I thought I was mentally prepared to consider leaving the States, but I broke down in the office when I saw the results,” she recalled. The uncertainty has forced her to confront difficult questions about her professional future and personal ambitions.
Weighing opportunities abroad and at home
Shreya is now exploring alternatives beyond the United States. She plans to seek employment in India, where the growing startup ecosystem offers new possibilities. “With my experience from Harvard, Duke, and Visa, I think I have a much stronger resume to take to India or elsewhere,” she said. She is also considering other countries that might offer professional pathways, though she acknowledges that relocating is never straightforward.
Her story is emblematic of a broader trend. The rising cost of H-1B fees and tighter immigration policies are prompting skilled professionals to reconsider the United States as a long-term destination. For many international students and workers, the once-linear path of study, work, and eventual settlement in the US is increasingly uncertain.
A bittersweet farewell
Despite the challenges, Shreya does not view her American dream as a failure. “I have really loved my time in the US. Whatever the country promised me, it delivered on,” she said. Her years in the US have offered education at top institutions, career advancement, and the chance to contribute meaningfully to the tech industry. Yet, she recognizes that the landscape is changing. “It would only make sense to study here if you are prepared to leave after your student work authorization expires, should you not get an H-1B,” she observed.
For Shreya Mishra Reddy, the conclusion of her US chapter is both reflective and pragmatic. The experience has fortified her skills and professional profile, equipping her to navigate opportunities in India or elsewhere. At the same time, her story highlights the human impact of immigration policies and the fragility of the so-called American dream in a time of tightened borders and rising costs.
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