I've spent 5 years building a life in the US. Even with an H-1B, I don't feel secure enough to buy a home or start a family.

Madhur Mehta received an H-1B approval in 2026. Courtesy of Madhur Mehta Madhur Mehta moved to the US in 2021. The last five years have taken a toll on him. After the government changed the H-1B lottery selection process, he made Plan B's in case he wasn't picked. His H-1B petition was approved in 2026, but he still feels like he can't plan ahead. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Madhur Mehta, 35, an Indian national living in Seattle and working at Amazon. The following...