Why I gave up on getting an H-1B visa

Description

In September 2025, President Trump set in motion a alter that would throw the H-1B visa use procedure into disarray. His projected $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions changed the immigration landscape for employers, employees, and visa hopefuls alike.

Indian national Shreya Mishra Reddy graduated from Duke University in 2021 alongside a master's in engineering management. She had set her sights on operating and living in the US. But following learning that possible employers would have to pay a $100,000 fee to employ her, she pivoted.

Since final September, Business Insider has been interviewing group who have borne the brunt of the chaos, including those who have applied for visas and are debating whether to remain in the US. Others have opted to tap out of the scheme altogether.