Leaving the US overnight felt like a 'bad dream'

Ananya Joshi moved from India to the US in 2022 to pursue a master’s degree in biotechnology at Northwestern University.

She later joined a cultivated meat startup in Chicago as a scientist and planned to continue working in the US.

Joshi had a promise of H-1B sponsorship, but her employer ultimately backed out.

Her work option could not be renewed, and her F-1 visa was cut short.

In September 2025, President Donald Trump set in motion a change that would throw the H-1B visa application process into disarray.

His proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions changed the immigration landscape for some employers, employees, and visa hopefuls like Joshi.

Since last September, Business Insider has been interviewing people who have borne the brunt of the chaos, including those who have applied for visas and are debating whether to stay in the US.

Others have opted to tap out of the system altogether.