Indian Amazon manager in Seattle feels insecure about buying a home amid visa uncertainty

Madhur Mehta moved to the United States in August 2021 to pursue a master’s degree and aimed for a stable tech career. After graduating in 2023, he spent three years on Optional Practical Training before Amazon hired him in 2025 and began sponsoring his H-1B visa. A recent change to the H-1B lottery, which sorts applicants into wage-level categories, added further uncertainty, prompting Mehta to develop backup plans, including the EB-1A extraordinary-ability visa and possible relocation to Canada or Australia.

He received his H-1B selection notice in March, easing immediate concerns, yet the fragile nature of the visa system still threatens his ability to buy a house or start a family with his fiancée, who faces her own H-1B lottery deadline. Both fear that job loss could force a switch to dependent status without automatic work rights. While Mehta values the professional opportunities the U.S. tech sector offers, he acknowledges the emotional strain of distance from family and the difficulty of long-term commitments under an unstable immigration framework.