The American Dream has turned into a daily nightmare for many international students. A recent post by a 27-year-old Indian woman on social media painfully captures the suffering of individuals in new America.
The woman is likely working on an OPT (Optional Practical Training) work permit, given to students after graduation to pursue a job in their field for up to a year. Once the year is up they either can file for an extension if they are working in STEM fields, or approach their employer to sponsor their H-1B visa.
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Giving details on her ordeal the Indian worker claims she was promised an H-1B sponsorship when she started working in her company as a designer back in 2023. That was the only reason she stayed at a startup where she went through months of overwork and underpay.
She was made to juggle design, product management, and even business operations — all without benefits, sick leave, or basic respect. But come 2025, the boss simply refused to file her H1B, as the startup is not doing very well.
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And now, she’s burnt out and stuck in a toxic job that’s killing her health and confidence. But at the same time, she is terrified to quit because her visa clock will start ticking.
This is the dark reality behind OPT and H-1B delays. US immigration policies are pushing young Indian talent into exploitative workplaces, where they are treated as disposable labor.
Also Read – Wrong Employer Filed H-1B, Offer in Limbo
This isn’t just one woman’s story, this is the reality for thousands of Indians suffering in a stifled job market.
