Indian Techie Shares his Journey from F-1 Visa to Green Card: Is the American Dream Still Alive?
The internet is flooded with the debate on the relevance of the ‘American dream’ when an Indian techie shares his journey finally getting the US green card after waiting for 14 years!
This Story also Contains
- “The wait tested my patience”
- What the Community Says: Hope vs. Frustration
- US vs India and Canada
- What You Need to Know?
- Conclusion
An Indian researcher named Rajavasnath Rajasegar triggered a debate about immigration backlogs in the US through his journey from F-1 student visa to permanent residency in the US. He began his study abroad journey in August 2011 with a student visa for USA for pursuing MS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. He appreciates the smooth, streamlined visa transitions from F-1 visa renewals, OPT+ STEM, exempt from cap-gap H-1B visa during Covid-19, and entering the faculty. He has been fortunate enough to never have experienced the long visa clock, despite unexpected questioning on his work, round of letters, and ended in approval. He remains hopeful of the future of Indians in the US, amidst all the visa policy changes.
However, his story has caused a lot of fear in the minds of people, especially Indians about the long journey of securing the US student visa, H-1B, and then a green card. Now, with the H-1B fees hike for employers in the US, some are even skeptical if working in the US is still worth it in the long run, in comparison to other countries like Canada, Australia or India, in terms of job security.
Read More:
“The wait tested my patience”
Rajasegar also had to wait for 14 years to navigate years of transition in the US:
F-1 (PhD program) → OPT → H-1B → countless renewals.
Finally, after waiting for more than a decade, he received approval for his employment-based green card. In his viral social media post, he wrote: “I came here full of dreams as a student. After fourteen years, I finally feel like I'm stable. The wait tried my patience, but I was able to keep going”.
Also Learn: Is China K Visa Better than US H1B Visa for Indian Students?
What the Community Says: Hope vs. Frustration
The post quickly gained traction among immigrants stuck in the EB-2 and EB-3 green card queues.
One user commented: “Fourteen years is too long for talented PhDs. The U.S. system is broken.”
Another added: “This gives me hope. I’m in year six of my H-1B journey, waiting endlessly for my priority date.”
The thread highlighted the immigration anxiety shared by thousands of Indian tech professionals who entered the U.S. through the student route.
US vs India and Canada
The viral post of Rajasegar initiated a comparison between the US and other nations, yet again:
Australia and Canada: In these countries, it is possible to get a PR within 2-3 years, if you use point-based systems.
India: In comparison to the tech industry in Canada, India offers more job-hopping opportunities for tech professionals and tech managers can even earn between 35 and 40 lakh a year,
US: Even though professionals can earn a lot more in the US, as compared to other countries, there is visa uncertainty and green card backlogs going on for decades.
Though Rajasegar has been fortunate, this is not always the case with Indians in the US, which is why they go to Canada or move back to India.
What You Need to Know?
Timeline from F1 to Green Card: Rajasegar's 14-year wait is typical for many Indian immigrants in the US. And, with the ongoing visa policy changes revolving around F-1 and H-1B visas, it is true that Indians would now have to wait even longer to get Permanent Residency in the US after studying post 2025.
PhD students in the US: There is no certainty for visas even for advanced degree holders in the US. Even advanced degree holders face uncertainty in the immigration process.
Career growth dilemma: Indian professionals face a dilemma between choosing jobs in the US, Canada, or India.
Conclusion
Rajavasnath Rajasegar’s journey from an F-1 visa to the U.S. Indian immigrants' ability to get a green card after 14 years shows how strong they are, but it also shows how flawed the American immigration system is.
His story makes many international students and skilled workers wonder: Is the American dream worth the wait, or should talented people from around the world look elsewhere?
Articles
Questions related to
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to ?
Hi there
Yes you can try to learn various courses that are for approximately 3 months to 6 months in duration.
Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..
Below i have mentioned some courses that you can try before visiting us:
- Social media marketing
- Content writer
- Content creation
- Video editing
- Photography skills
- Digital marketing
- Stiching
- Makeup artist course
- Hairstyling course.
So these are some courses you can try.
Hope this answer will help you. Revert incase of any query.
Thank you and good luck:)
Hello Samarasimha,
YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.
Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :
- 3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
- 3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
- GRE score of 330 or above.
- Statement of Purpose.
- Research Internships/ Published Research Papers.
- Project work/Seminars.
- 2-3 Letter of Recommendation.
- Social & Leadership Activities.
Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :
- Enroll in a software development program. The first step to becoming a software engineer is to enroll in a software development degree program. ...
- Gain internship experience. ...
- Choose your specialty. ...
- Pursue industry certifications. ...
- Continue your education.
I hope that this will help.
Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..
To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as
- TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
- There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.
Top university of The USA for master degree courses
- John Carroll University
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Michigan State University
- West Virginia University
- Rhode Island College
- University of Arkansas
- Vanderbilt University
- DePaul University
- Delaware State University
- Texas A&M University-Commerce
- University of South Florida
- California State University Northridge
You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below
https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp
Hope it's helpful for you..
Thank you
There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .
Hello Student
You are aBHM means Bachelor in Hotel Management so after doing BHM,to gain a bright future inthis trade you have to do MSc in Hotel Management,post graduation in Hospitality Management,Master degree in travel and tourism management,or MBA in hotel management,AFter doing post graduation in Hotel management or travel and tourism management will give you the best return in employment opportunity.
Hope this will help.
Applications for Admissions are open.
Want to study in Ireland? Explore Universities & Courses
Study in Canada
ApplyExplore Universities, Courses & Subjects | Work while study
Study in UK
ApplyApply for upcoming intake & plan your journey
Study in USA
ApplyUniversities inviting applications | Get expert guidance
Study in Australia
ApplyShortlist best ranked universities & get expert guidance