A 29-year-old H-1B visa holder’s story has gone viral after he revealed he was laid off less than a month after returning to the United States; despite years of service with his employer.
Posting anonymously on Reddit under the title “Laid off within a month of returning to the US,” the user shared that he had been with the same company since completing his master’s in 2021.
When his H-1B visa wasn’t selected in the 2024 lottery, his employer transferred him to Canada.
During the visa process, he was temporarily sent to India before finally moving to Canada once his work permit came through.
This year, his H-1B was picked in the lottery, and the company filed for his transfer back to the US.
“I upgraded to premium processing out of pocket and moved back to the US at the end of September,” he wrote. But shortly after returning, he and a colleague were laid off amid low project activity.
“I knew layoffs were coming, but I didn’t expect to be the first. Everyone else was shocked,” he said, adding that he regretted not starting his job search earlier. “Lesson learned: no company is worth blind loyalty.”
His post has drawn massive attention online, with many users calling it a reality check for foreign workers.
“You lucked out — imagine being laid off before getting back on H-1B,” one user commented.
Another wrote, “Loyalty should be to your family, not your company. Always have a backup plan.”
The story has reignited debate around corporate layoffs, job security, and the fragile reality faced by skilled immigrants on temporary visas.
