For Sunjana Ramana, leaving the United States was not a question of ambition, talent, or effort—it was a consequence of a system that offered her no other option.
In a heartfelt post that has resonated widely online, the Data and AI Engineer announced that she is departing the US after failing to secure an H-1B work visa despite multiple attempts. Her story highlights the challenges faced by thousands of skilled immigrants navigating the complexities and uncertainties of the US immigration system.
“Four-and-a-half years ago, I landed in the US with $80,000 in student debt and a stubborn belief in the American Dream,” Ramana wrote. She followed what she describes as a “textbook path to success”—earning an Ivy League education, landing a six-figure tech job, and repaying her student loans. Along the way, she spoke at global platforms including TEDx and even sold her first SaaS product.
Yet, despite her accomplishments, she could not overcome the randomness of the H-1B visa lottery. “After three H-1B attempts, the answer was still no,” she shared. “It’s hard to explain how much it hurts to do everything right… and still lose.”
The H-1B program allows US companies to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations but is capped annually. When applications exceed the quota, visas are allocated through a lottery system—a process critics argue favors chance over merit. Ramana’s experience brings this debate into sharp focus. “You can do everything right and still have no control over the outcome,” she noted.
Rather than returning home, Ramana is now turning to the United Kingdom. She will begin her next chapter in London with the same determination that once brought her to New York. “They say, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere,” she wrote. “America, thank you for the opportunities and the growth. This isn’t goodbye forever.”
Her story has reignited discussions about America’s ability to retain global talent, especially in high-demand fields like artificial intelligence and data engineering. At a time when the US tech sector continues to rely heavily on immigrant professionals, Ramana’s departure underscores the human cost of restrictive visa policies. Signing off with optimism—“London, let’s do this”—she turns a personal setback into a broader commentary on how even those who seemingly do everything right can find the American Dream elusive.
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