Indian Data Scientist Leaves Six-Figure New York Job, Returns to India Despite H-1B Selection

A 28-year-old Indian data scientist has left behind a six-figure job in New York and returned to Gurugram, choosing to be closer to her family and escape the restrictions she associated with living and working on an H-1B visa.

Disha Lamba moved to the US in 2021 at the age of 23 to pursue a master's degree in computer engineering at New York University. After completing her studies, she built a career in data science and joined CVS Health as a data scientist in 2024. 

Lamba's decision to return to India came even after CVS sponsored her H-1B visa and she was informed in March 2026 that she had been selected in the visa lottery. She had already decided that she eventually wanted to return to India and ultimately resigned from her job and moved back to Gurugram in May. 

Five years in New York changed her life

Lamba said her years in New York helped her become more ambitious, confident and independent. She also developed an interest in hiking, travelling and data science during her time in the US.

While studying at NYU, she attended conferences and meetups, where she eventually met a senior data scientist from CVS Health who encouraged her to apply. She secured the data scientist role in 2024.

Despite having what she described as a good life, including a six-figure salary and a social circle, Lamba said she felt lonely living far from her family.

She told Business Insider that she missed having her family around at the end of the day and had to arrange video calls with her mother around the time difference. She also wanted to be present for important family occasions and support her parents. 

H-1B restrictions also influenced her decision

Lamba said her concerns were not limited to being away from family. She also felt that the H-1B visa could restrict her professional and personal choices.

According to her account, travelling outside the US could involve obtaining a new visa stamp before returning, while changing employers, pursuing additional income streams and taking a career break could also become more complicated under H-1B status.

Although she had been selected for the H-1B lottery, Lamba decided that the benefits of returning home outweighed what she was giving up in the US.

Back in Gurugram, she chose a career break

After resigning from CVS, Lamba moved into her family home in Gurugram, where she now lives with her parents and brother.

She decided to take a two-month career break using her savings. Unlike in the US, she said being in India gives her the freedom to change employers, explore a startup or pursue a side project without employment-visa restrictions.

She does not yet have a job offer but believes India can provide career opportunities comparable to those available in the US.

At the same time, Lamba acknowledged that she misses some aspects of American life, including walking around New York and its parks. But being able to spend time with her parents and having more support at home has reinforced her decision to return.

Disha Lamba confirms the story on LinkedIn

Lamba has also publicly addressed the attention around her decision. In a recent LinkedIn post, she said a post about moving back to India unexpectedly led to interview and podcast requests.

She confirmed that she had spoken to Business Insider about what brought her to the US, her journey there, the struggles she faced and why she chose to return despite having "everything on my plate". She said the article captured the essence of most of her experience.

Her LinkedIn profile also shows her professional background at CVS Health and her New York University education. 

Lamba's story reflects a choice that goes beyond salary or career growth: after building a successful professional life in New York, she decided that being close to family and having greater flexibility in her career mattered more than continuing that life in the US. 

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