For countless Indian tech workers, the coveted H-1B visa represents a gateway to a career in the United States. However, the dream often faces hurdles far beyond the lottery and consulate interviews. In a distressing twist, for one 28-year-old Indian tech professional, her approved visa journey has been indefinitely paused not at an immigration counter, but due to a sudden change in a client's spreadsheet.
Approved Visa, Derailed Plans
According to her account, the woman successfully navigated the complex H-1B process, receiving her visa approval and getting her passport stamped in November 2025. With the formalities complete, she anticipated finally relocating to the US, ending months of uncertainty. The relocation was initially greenlit by the client's project head at the time.
However, her plans were abruptly upended by a leadership change within the client organization. "The earlier client head who had agreed to my travel moved out, and the new head doesn't want to approve it because they don't want to increase billing costs," she revealed. This single managerial shift left her in limbo, with her employer now tasked with persuading the new leadership to honor the earlier agreement.
Life and Career in Suspended Animation
The professional has been living in this state of prolonged uncertainty for nearly 18 months. Despite the visa stamp in her passport, she continues to work from India, logging night shifts to align with US business hours for the very same client that is blocking her move.
The impact extends far beyond professional inconvenience, taking a severe personal toll. "I'm unable to plan my marriage or even begin looking for a groom because I don't know where I'll be based," she said, highlighting the human cost of bureaucratic and corporate delays. "My career and personal life are both stuck."
A Growing Pattern of Post-Approval Hurdles
This case sheds light on a less-discussed phase of the H-1B journey: the challenges that arise even after visa approval. Recently, several H-1B holders have begun sharing similar experiences of disruptions following new procedural changes. In one related instance, a visa holder reported being unable to travel for holidays due to pending final approvals, indicating a broader trend of anxiety and instability among professionals who have theoretically cleared the major hurdles.
The situation underscores a critical vulnerability in the dependent visa process, where an employee's fate can hinge on the internal decisions of a client company, leaving individuals with little recourse despite having official documentation in hand.
