Indian Data Scientist Leaves Six-Figure New York Job, Cites H-1B Limits
Disha Lamba, a 28-year-old data scientist, quit a six-figure role in New York and returned to Gurugram, citing family ties and H-1B visa constraints.
Born and raised in India, Disha Lamba moved to the United States in 2021 to study computer engineering at NYU, where she discovered a love for data science and attended numerous tech meetups. A senior data scientist at CVS Health encouraged her to apply, leading to a data scientist role in 2024 with a six-figure salary. By March 2026 she won an H-1B lottery slot, but growing homesickness, isolation, and the need for visa stamping appointments made her reassess her future.
In May 2026 she resigned, flew to Gurugram, and now lives with her parents while taking a two-month career break financed by her savings. Lamba sees the Indian market—citing companies such as EY, Mastercard, and American Express—as offering similar career growth, and values the freedom to start a startup or side hustle without visa restrictions. While she misses certain aspects of New York life, daily family interaction convinces her the move was worthwhile.
Why it matters
The story highlights how U.S. visa restrictions can push skilled professionals to leave high-paying jobs and return home.
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