Google techie returns to US after letting go of H-1B visa, staying in India for 10 years

A Google employee has returned to the United States after giving up an H-1B visa and staying in India for 10 years. The individual, a software engineer, had originally moved back to India after being unable to secure a green card through the employment-based immigration system.

During the decade in India, the engineer continued working for Google remotely. The company eventually sponsored a new visa, allowing the employee to re-enter the US under a different immigration category.

The case highlights the challenges faced by H-1B visa holders, who often face long waits for permanent residency due to per-country caps. Many professionals have left the US voluntarily or been forced to depart after failing to obtain green cards within their visa duration.

The engineer's return was facilitated by a change in US immigration policies or company sponsorship strategies, though specific details of the new visa type were not disclosed. The individual is now working at Google's headquarters in California.