10 people on weathering 12 months of immigration turmoil

10 people tell all about the uncertainty, risk, and reward of navigating the US immigration system.

Sean Marc Lee, Angela Ponce, Chinky Shukla, Ian Tuttle for BI The H-1B visa system is one of high stakes , shifting rules , and little certainty .

Over the past year, Business Insider has spoken to more than 20 H-1B visa holders and hopefuls about their decisions to opt in, push through, and sometimes give up on the H-1B American Dream as the Trump administration has become increasingly hostile to foreign workers.

As part of our H-1B Fallout series, published one year after the Trump administration introduced a $100,000 payment for some new H-1B petitions, we are telling the stories of people navigating the visa system.

Some left the US and returned to their home countries , while others rebuilt elsewhere or are still trying to build a career in the US.

This story is part of Business Insider's " H-1B Fallout: 1 year later " series.

Read more of our coverage of how the Trump administration's H-1B visa changes affect workers: The winners and losers of the new H-1B era The new lands of opportunity The hidden sacrifices of chasing an H-1B career in America I missed out on the H-1B lottery 3 times.

I wasn't ready to give up on my career in the US.

In a statement, a White House spokesperson said the goal of the $100,000 H-1B fee is to focus on sponsoring "truly highly specialized temporary labor." A Department of State spokesperson said the US is unapologetic about its "America first visa policies" and that the administration is working with partners to facilitate necessary visas.

A Department of Labor spokesperson said the administration is protecting American jobs and increasing wages.

Keep reading to see what life has been like for people affected by the US's immigration policy changes.

Soumi Chanda, 35 Paromita Chatterjee for BI Country of origin: India Lives in: Kolkata, India Industry: Customer Service Education: BA and master's degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University Soumi Chanda had spent 13 years building a life in the US when a 2025 layoff put her H-1B status at risk.

Chanda moved from Kolkata to Spokane, Washington, in 2013 for graduate school.

She was selected for an H-1B on her first attempt in 2021 — "pure luck," she said — and Amazon later took over her sponsorship, prompting her move to Seattle.