H-1B Indian Engineer Loses AI Job After 6 Years At Fortune 500 Firm

The engineer, who spent six years in the U.S. earning a master's degree and working for the company, was told his entire project would be moved to the firm's India office. He was given a short notice period and had to begin preparations for returning home, as his H-1B visa was tied to his employment.

His role involved artificial intelligence development, a field that has seen rapid growth and increasing offshoring in recent years. The company, which employs thousands of workers globally, decided to consolidate the project in India to reduce costs, according to the engineer's account.

The engineer, who asked not to be named, said he had no option but to comply with the decision. He described the experience as emotionally and financially challenging, as he had built his life and career in the U.S. over the past six years.

He is now looking for new opportunities in India, where he hopes to continue his work in AI. The case highlights the precarious situation of many H-1B workers, who must leave the country if they lose their jobs and cannot find a new sponsor within the 60-day grace period.

Immigration experts say such offshoring decisions are becoming more common as companies seek to cut costs and tap into India's growing tech talent pool. However, they note that the trend leaves many skilled workers in the U.S. in limbo, forced to uproot their lives at short notice.