The Silent Crisis: Tech Layoffs, Visa Clocks, and the South Asian American Crossroads

Editor’s Note: This story is part of our May Mental Health Awareness spotlight.

Layoffs aren’t just about roles or paychecks, they ripple through visas, identities, plans, and quiet dreams. For South Asian professionals in tech, the fallout can be especially complex. Visa clocks start ticking. Cultural pressures dial up. And the silence around mental health? Deafening.

But this isn’t the end. Maybe it’s a layup, a chance to pause, pivot, or rebuild something that actually fits. We put this piece together with care, to name what’s hard, spotlight what’s helping, and remind you (or someone you love) that there are ways forward, ways that protect both ambition and well-being.

From WhatsApp job boards and H-1B pivots to return plans and therapists who don’t need your backstory, here’s what healing looks like when you’ve spent years building a life on borrowed time.

Crisis Support That Gets It:

Immediate Visa Guidance:

Emergency Financial Support:

This moment feels impossible because it is impossibly complex. You're not just dealing with job loss, you're facing the potential unraveling of a life built across continents, with family expectations pressing from one side and visa deadlines from the other.

Here's what's underneath the chaos: This isn't a tech sector collapse. It's a restructure. Over 61,000 tech workers have been laid off, but the sector still posted $112.8B in Q1 profits. AI is changing what companies need, Microsoft says 30% of their code is now AI-generated. The roles are shifting, not disappearing.

Why it hits our community hardest: 72.3% of FY2023 H-1B recipients were from India. That's not a statistic, that's us. The 60-day clock means one layoff triggers visa panic and possible forced departure. When USCIS is rejecting 68% of H-1B extensions, every application feels like a gamble with your entire future.

The family multiplier effect: One lost job affects an average of 2.8 people, dependent spouses, kids on F-2s who might have to leave school midyear. This isn't just professional stress. It's identity, housing, community, and continuity all on the line.

You're not imagining the mental toll: Indian men reported 23% higher rates of depression post-layoff than men in other industries. Only 12% of laid-off H-1B workers sought therapy, compared to 31% of non-immigrant peers. We're trained to be grateful, to "push through," to say "it'll work out." But the data says something else, we're carrying too much, silently.

If your job, visa, and sense of self all feel on the line right now, you're not alone. And you're not broken. Here's what's actually helping South Asians navigate this.

When friends and coworkers don't fully understand what it means to be laid off on an H-1B, finding people who do is everything.

Communities That Get It:

Next Steps: Join at least one community this week. Even if you just lurk initially, knowing the support exists helps.

A visa crisis doesn't just hit your inbox, it ripples through your whole household. Your partner's calculating rent. Your kids are asking if they'll have to leave school. Your parents are panicking from 8,000 miles away.

Reality Check Conversations:

Cultural Context: The shame around job loss in our community is real. You don't owe anyone a timeline for "bouncing back." This is a systemic issue, not a personal failure.

For many of us, anxiety shows up in our bodies first, stomach issues, insomnia, tight shoulders. New approaches are meeting that reality.

Immediate Relief Options:

Finding the Right Therapist:

Next Steps: Book a consultation this week, even if it's just to have the option available.

Once the initial shock clears, it's time to move from reaction to strategy. Whether you're trying to stay in the U.S., considering a move home, or exploring global opportunities, here's what's working for others who've been exactly where you are.

This isn't about scrambling, it's about strategic bridging.

Bridge Employment Options:

Next Steps:

Visa-Friendly Employer Database: Use sites like MyVisaJobs.com (now includes 1,700+ companies) to search by response speed and sponsorship success rates.

Entrepreneurial Path: 27% of former H-1B holders are transitioning to O-1 and EB-1A visas through startups. Accelerators like Y Combinator actively seek founders with resilience stories.

Let's stop calling it "going back." Sometimes, it's a leap forward.

The Numbers Game: India's AI + tech sector grew 38% year-over-year with 43,000+ new roles in 2024. Senior packages now offer up to 60% of U.S. salaries, or 85%+ when adjusted for cost of living.

Returning Talent Programs:

Next Steps:

Real Talk: "I thought moving home meant failure. Instead, I finally stopped living in survival mode." - Recent returnee

The world is bigger than the U.S. visa system. Here's where doors are opening fast.

🇨🇦 Canada:

🇦🇪 UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi):

🇵🇹 Portugal:

Next Steps: Research visa requirements for your top choice and connect with expat communities online before making any moves.

Not all bootcamps are equal. Here's what's actually delivering results:

High-Impact Skills:

Age Advantage: Engineers 45+ see 2.1x better ROI on upskilling than their under-30 peers. Many programs offer pay-after-employment options.

Next Steps: Research programs that offer job placement assistance and have transparent employment statistics.

Sometimes numbers can't capture what this experience really feels like. Here are voices from our community:

"I didn't just lose my job. I lost my plan, my confidence, and my sense of belonging, all in one afternoon. What helped most? Finding a community where I didn't have to explain what H-1B even meant." - Raj, former SDE at Microsoft (7 years in the U.S.)

"Every rejection email was a step closer to losing my life here. A therapist who already understood H-1B stress? Game-changing." - Priya, former TPM (12 years in the U.S.)

"I thought moving back after 20 years meant failure. Instead, I stopped living in survival mode. I sleep through the night now. My kids are adjusting faster than I expected." - Vikram, now Director of Engineering, Bangalore

"By month three, I realized my career had more runway in India than it ever did while chasing renewal paperwork in the U.S." - Ananya, returned in 2024 after 11 years abroad

"Getting laid off felt like being pushed off a cliff. But it was actually a diving board. Two months later, my startup got Y Combinator backing." - Founder, Series A secured, April 2025

"The visa pressure forced me to build something I'm actually proud of. I launched a SaaS product in India, and it's now expanding globally. I wouldn't have made that leap if I wasn't pushed." - Founder, $3.2M raised, serving U.S. + Indian clients

Crisis & Immediate Support

Visa & Legal Help

Job Search & Career

Mental Health Support

Return to India Resources

Global Opportunities

This isn't the end of the road. But it is a real reckoning. The industry is changing. The visa system is stressed. But you? You're not alone, and you're not without options.

This moment might feel like it's about loss. But for many in our community, it's become the opening to something better, something that fits their values, their family's needs, and their own definition of success. Your worth is not tied to your visa status. Your value extends far beyond your LinkedIn profile. You don't have to carry this alone.

And if right now you just need to breathe, cry, or vent? We're holding that space, too. Always.

From our community to yours, you belong in whatever story comes next.

Loved this? There’s more brewing every week. ☕