Bold headline: A 32-year-old who returned to India after nearly a decade in the US recounts the struggle of reverse migration, identity, and second thoughts.
A Hyderabad-based professional who spent almost nine years in the United States found himself back in India after being laid off on an H-1B visa, a move he says was forced by visa trouble. Five months into the transition, the full impact is only beginning to register.
In his Reddit post, he explains: “I recently moved back to India (Hyderabad) from the US after almost 9 years due to visa issues. I was on an H-1B and got laid off, so I had to move back. Although I had initially made up my mind, reality has started to sink in now.”
He reflects on the mixed experience of living abroad. He acknowledges that life in the US wasn’t all bright lights and ease, noting frequent challenges in forming meaningful connections, even as he values the high quality of life there.
Returning to Hyderabad and living with his parents has brought comfort, yet it also feels destabilizing. “I started to feel like I’ve gone back nine years and am living the same life again. Now, I feel like going back to the US,” he admits.
Complicating matters, several friends are moving to the US through company transfers, and his girlfriend, who he broke up with a month ago, is also relocating there. “All of this amplifies my feeling of wanting to go back as well,” he confesses.
While his six-year H-1B term wasn’t fully utilized, his I-140 green-card petition wasn’t approved. He hopes his current Indian employer might help him chart a path back, though he remains uncertain about how feasible that is.
Discussion on social media drew a spectrum of responses. One commenter advised that settling back can take about a year and noted that personal upheaval—such as a breakup and friends moving abroad—can extend that period. They urged the original poster to avoid looking back and to accept the decision made.
Another user suggested that the US isn’t going anywhere and urged the poster to enjoy his time in India, noting that many people in the US sometimes wish they could spend time there.
A third commenter cautioned that reverse migration involves emotional shifts and may take two years to feel settled; they warned against letting others’ choices drive one’s own decision and encouraged exploring other options if a decision to stay in the US is revisited.
A fourth reader remarked that at 32, a visa-related departure isn’t a life-altering decision but a sign to cherish past experiences and move forward.
Disclaimer: This report is assembled from social-media content. Hindustan Times has not independently verified these claims and does not endorse them.
