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Layoffs at Meta, Amazon, and Twitter: “Tech layoffs won’t kill American dreams of Indians”

Layoffs at Meta, Amazon, and Twitter: “Tech layoffs won’t kill American dreams of Indians”

Layoffs at Meta, Amazon, and Twitter: “Tech layoffs won’t kill American dreams of Indians”

Layoffs at Meta, Amazon, and Twitter: “Tech layoffs won’t kill American dreams of Indians”

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  • Recent mass layoffs at big US tech companies have thrown many Indians working on non-immigrant visas into a state of uncertainty.
  • Surbhi Gupta, a product manager at Meta who was one of the people affected, talked to journalist Savita Patel from California about how hard it was for her to accept.
  • I learned that I had been fired through email at roughly 6 a.m. local time. As a product manager says Surbhi Gupta.
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Numerous Indians on non-immigrant visas like the H1-B are now uncertain jobs following recent enormous layoffs at major US tech companies. Product manager at Meta Surbhi Gupta, who was among those impacted, spoke with journalist Savita Patel in California about how it took her some time to accept it, the uncertainty H1-B visa holders face, and what she wants to do next.

My mother had a birthday. As I stayed up late to wish her, I started receiving messages from my pals informing me of layoff announcements. All of them felt nervous.

I learned that I had been fired through email at roughly 6 a.m. local time. As a product manager, I had recently joined Meta. Considering how well I had been performing, my team was startled.

It went against my early-adopted philosophy, “Work is worship,” which was ingrained in me by my favourite schoolteacher. At first, I thought the Titanic was sinking as I lost access to my job, email, and laptop one by one. But my LinkedIn network pleasantly shocked and overwhelmed me in a good manner. Numerous coworkers, former coworkers, and friends reached out in a very encouraging way, giving introductions and recommendations. It gave me the impression that I am loved by a large number of people in this nation and that I am a part of it.
The deadline for me to find a new job is early March because my last day at Meta is in January and my H1-B visa [a non-immigrant visa that permits companies in the US to recruit foreigners for up to six years] only allows me to stay in the country for another 60 days.

Due to the slow hiring pace in December brought on by the holidays, finding a job is going to be challenging right now. But I’m really committed. I am looking at choices and communicating with several businesses.

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The work environment and my coworkers are what I’ll miss the most about Meta. Being at Meta means having the opportunity to create a wonderful product for millions of users, as well as taking part in growth and learning events like fireside chats. It would have been satisfying to see the project I was working on advance as a product manager.

My parents instilled in me the value of never giving up. They advise me to maintain my composure because I have the ability to turn challenges into advantages. They assure me that “you’ll find something better” (aur kuch accha mil jayega).

But my H1-B visa is what allows me to work and remain in the US. I moved to the US in 2009, and since then, I have worked incredibly hard to establish my profession using only my own abilities. I have spent more than 15 years building outstanding products, earning top ratings, paying taxes, and making a significant contribution to the US economy, yet due to the H1-B visa’s restrictions, I feel as though I am still in the same position with regard to permanent residency. I was named Miss Bharat California by Sushmita Sen, a Bollywood actress who is one of my idols. I’ve strutted the catwalk during New York Fashion Week. My very own podcast exists.
Because of the US nation cap, which makes it impossible for Indians with H1-B visas to obtain green cards, we endure needless worry (permanent residency). Even though I’m in line for a green card, my wait durations fluctuate from two decades and sixty years when I check my status.

The uncertainty affects our personal lives negatively. My decision to invest in a home has raised the question of what would happen if I had to sell it. Despite moving forward with the YC [Y Combinator is an American accelerator for technology start-ups], I am unable to launch a business despite having a fantastic idea since I need a green card.

Sushmita Sen, Ms. Gupta's idol, bestowed the title of Miss Bharat California on her.

Sushmita Sen, Ms. Gupta’s idol, bestowed the title of Miss Bharat California on her.

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I visited 30 countries before I was 30. However, while having the desire to travel extensively, I am currently unable to do so because I am afraid of running into difficulties while attempting to have my H1-B visa re-stamped. My pals who work for reputable organisations like Google and PayPal have told me about their overseas snafus.

I even cut back on my trips back to India. Several years ago, I was stranded in India. I had to get my H1-B visa stamped after travelling to a wedding. But because it through haphazard administrative processing, it took several months, and I wasn’t even sure when it would be received. My marriage suffered from the apprehension and waiting. My marriage suffered greatly as a result of the visa problems. Although it wasn’t the only factor, it ended up being a significant one in my marriage’s dissolution. Additionally, I had to leave a semester of my studies at New York University because I was unsure about my ability to return to the US. Why do those on H1-B visas have to put up with this?

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents haven’t been able to visit me, thus it has been three and a half years since I last saw them. They are old and don’t maintain themselves well. I’m constantly wondering if I’ll be able to go aid my parents if they need it. No one is aware of how it affects our lives.

But despite everything that has occurred, I think this experience has a positive side as well. My life includes a large amount of spirituality. I am a devotee and adherent of Sadhguru ji [as devotees of Indian yoga master Jaggi Vasudev call him]. He contends that we shouldn’t define ourselves solely by or confine our identities to our occupations. Which company do you work for is the most commonly posed query in Silicon Valley. But despite being a product manager, I am still me. Everyone needs to understand that they are more than the organisation they work for.

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