As an information scientist in the USA, Disha Lamba loved a six-figure wage, a cushty way of life, entry to wash public areas, and a profession that many envied. Earlier this yr, she determined to surrender all of that to maneuver again to India.
In an essay for Enterprise Insider, Lamba opened up about her determination to return to Gurugram — claiming that the driving components have been loneliness and dissatisfaction with H-1B restrictions.
Transferring to the US
Lamba opened her essay by writing: “I used to be born and raised in India. As an introvert, I favored being in my consolation zone, however my dad dreamed of sending me to the US for my grasp’s.”
She moved to New York in 2021 to check laptop engineering at NYU. At 23, she fell in love with the Large Apple. Lamba stated that 5 years within the US formed loads of her persona — “Managing issues alone in a brand new surroundings made me actually bold. I grew to become extra assured and had a excessive sense of individuality. In India, I by no means considered touring to a different a part of the nation, and I did not understand I cherished climbing earlier than coming to the US,” she stated.
Engaged on H-1B visa
In 2024, Disha Lamba landed a job at CVS. The corporate sponsored her H-1B visa.
Lamba is properly conscious of the privilege, acknowledging that lots of her friends needed to return to India as a result of they might not bag H-1B sponsorships.
Nevertheless, two years later, she determined to surrender her H-1B visa and return to India. This, she says, had all the time been her plan.
“CVS sponsored my H-1B visa, and I used to be knowledgeable that I used to be chosen within the lottery in March 2026. Nevertheless, my plan had all the time been to finally return to India, and by that time, I might already determined,” she stated.
Loneliness of life within the US
“I had a fantastic life within the US — I used to be proud of my job and social life, and I had a six-figure wage, however I felt lonely,” Lamba admitted.
She opened up concerning the loneliness of not having household round and having to schedule video calls together with her mom. The time distinction between India and the US made it all of the tougher.
“I missed my household and realized I used to be a lot happier and content material round them. I needed to be there for large celebrations and help my mother and father throughout good and unhealthy instances. I feared being far-off if one thing unhealthy occurred,” she stated.
Unease with H-1B restrictions
The Indian girl additionally defined that apart from loneliness, it was her unease with H-1B visa restrictions that drove her return to Gurgaon.
“My second motive for wanting to maneuver again was the visa restrictions. When you’re on an H-1B, you want a brand new visa stamp to journey and return to the US, and getting a stamping appointment in India is usually a ache.
“For the reason that H-1B is mostly granted in three-year increments, I felt there’d be loads of ongoing visa administration,” she stated.
Engaged on an H-1B meant that she couldn’t take a profession break or change jobs simply.
“The H-1B visa has its professionals, however I wasn’t OK with the cons,” Lamba stated.
Return to India
In Might 2026, Lamba stop her job and returned to India. “I resigned from CVS and flew residence to Gurugram, a satellite tv for pc metropolis southwest of New Delhi, to reside with my mother and father and brother,” she stated.
She moved again to India with out one other job supply in hand, and admits that she typically nonetheless will get anxious about her determination.
“I have never received a job supply in hand but, however I believe India presents comparable profession alternatives to the US. Large corporations like EY, Mastercard, and American Specific have workplaces close to me,” Lamba stated.
“I nonetheless get anxious about whether or not I made the suitable determination, however attending to hug my mother and father each morning jogs my memory it was value it,” she stated.
And whereas she loves residing in India, there are additionally sure elements of life in New York that she misses.
“I miss sure issues concerning the US. I used to like strolling round after work and staring on the New York skyline, however the place I’m now, the sidewalks aren’t as walkable, and the general public parks aren’t as clear,” Lamba stated.
