Techie quits toxic US job, returns to India with ₹37 LPA salary: ‘I miss the US lifestyle’

An Indian tech professional’s candid account of walking away from a difficult job in the United States—just as his green card process finally moved forward—captures the emotional and practical trade-offs many immigrant workers face. After two years on an H1B visa and a bruising stint at a small startup, he chose to return to India with a ₹37 lakh per annum offer, even though a part of him still longs for the life he envisioned in the US.

A dream meets a harsh reality

After spending two years in the US on an H1B visa, the techie found himself at a crossroads: find another job quickly or head back to India. Determined to stay and keep his long-held dream alive, he accepted the only offer on the table—joining a very small boutique startup.

With more than 11 years of experience, he expected architect-level responsibilities. Instead, he was assigned purely developer tasks. The mismatch was only the beginning. The work culture turned out to be toxic, and he says his only teammate regularly belittled and humiliated him. Over time, the constant hostility eroded his confidence to the point where some evenings ended in tears alone in his car.

A toxic workplace and dwindling confidence

The startup, despite being around for a decade, had no stable clients and was perpetually in “stealth mode.” Sales conversations fizzled, growth never materialized, and the pressure kept mounting. The broader job market felt unforgiving, too. Switching roles in the US was far tougher than he’d imagined; every rejection deepened his self-doubt. He began to question his skills and professional worth—an especially painful spiral for someone with years of experience and ambition.

The breaking point—and a fork in the road

After about a year and a half in that environment, he was emotionally exhausted. He broadened his search to include both the US and India. Two concrete offers finally arrived: one for $124,000 in the US, and another for ₹37 lakh per annum in India.

He chose India. In a twist of timing that felt almost cruel, an email confirming his PERM approval—the crucial first step of US labor certification toward permanent residency—arrived the very day he resigned. Continuing the process would have required pushing through at least another year for the I-140 and the 180-day window to gain more security in his immigration status. He felt too depleted to keep going. He let the dream go, at least for now, and booked a flight home.

The return home: respect, responsibility—and relief

Back in India, he stepped into a Senior Architect role at a large services company. The change was immediate and tangible: he felt respected, empowered, and trusted to lead teams and make enterprise-level decisions. His stress levels eased. The day-to-day grind felt more sustainable, and his professional identity—shaken by the toxic stint—began to recover.

The ache that lingers

Even with the stability and recognition he has now, a quiet ache remains. He misses the US lifestyle and the future he imagined there since childhood. He can’t help wondering: What if he had endured just one more year? What if he had waited until his immigration status was more secure before changing jobs? Did he step away from a golden opportunity on the cusp of success?

Those questions don’t have easy answers. What he does know is that the decision he made was right for his mental health at the time. The cost of staying—under constant humiliation and ongoing uncertainty—felt too high. In India, he’s rebuilding with dignity and leadership, even as part of him still grieves the path not taken.

A common crossroads for many

His story reflects a broader reality for many skilled immigrants: navigating an unforgiving job market, opaque startups, uncertain visa timelines, and personal well-being—all at once. The line between perseverance and burnout is thin. For some, staying the course pays off. For others, stepping away is the bravest choice.

He sums up the paradox simply: life in India now feels peaceful, yet a little unfinished. Between belonging and ambition, certainty and possibility, he chose peace. Whether the US dream is gone for good or merely on pause, he’s proving that choosing self-respect and mental health can be a win—no matter where you live.