IT professional says ‘I am leaving America’, citing visa system constraints

An experienced Indian IT professional, Sunjana Ramana, announced her decision to leave the United States, highlighting systemic challenges in the country’s immigration framework despite building a successful career there, as per a post on her LinkedIn profile. 

As per Ramana, she arrived in the US more than four years ago as an international student, incurring substantial educational debt with the intention of transitioning to a long-term professional life. Over the years, she established herself in the technology sector — repaying her student loans, speaking on global platforms including TEDx, and launching her own software product. 

However, her aspirations were curtailed by the limitations of the H-1B visa lottery system, which governs employment authorisation for foreign professionals, she said. Although Ramana met all eligibility criteria, she was not selected in the lottery in three consecutive attempts, underscoring the unpredictability of the process even for highly qualified individuals. 

In a LinkedIn post explaining her choice, she described how the lottery’s reliance on chance, rather than merit or experience, left her with no viable route to continue working in the U.S. “After three H-1B attempts, the answer was still no,” she wrote, adding that she had done “everything right” yet was thwarted by a system beyond her control. 

Ramana has said she is now planning to relocate to London for her next professional chapter. While expressing gratitude for opportunities she received in America, she emphasised that structural visa issues ultimately forced her decision to leave. 

As per reports, such cases highlight broader concerns about the US immigration policy for skilled workers and its impact on retaining global talent, especially when comparison is drawn with other countries offering clearer pathways to permanent residency.