Send us a text Indian engineers follow every rule — come legally, pay taxes, build careers — yet many are stuck for decades in the green card backlog. This episode tells the human story behind that broken system. In this episode of International Student Experience, host Harshrajsinh Gohil sits down with Tushar Chadha, an international student from Delhi, India, who moved to the United States in 2008 to pursue his dream of becoming an engineer and scientist. Tushar shares his full journey — from growing up in India, navigating the intense engineering admission process, and the mistakes he made early on, to his life-changing decision to come to Chicago, USA for his master’s degree. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 03:21 Growing up in Delhi, India and Childhood memories 11:04 Engineering entrance exams, IIT dream, mistakes as a first engineer in family, decision to move to USA 20:04 Move to Chicago, USA, Life as an International Student and living in Dorm 33:19 Getting first Job, CPT and Importance of making genuine connections and advice on how to do networking 40:09 H-1B visa process and Green card process that is going on since last 12 years. how it affects people. 01:01:48 Losing father, regrets and how important father is. 01:09:00 Advice to upcoming engineering students to the USA He opens up about: • Growing up in India and dreaming of becoming a scientist • The realities of engineering admissions and early career decisions • Why he chose the U.S. for higher education • Life in American dorms and building friendships with other international students • How networking genuinely works — and how real human connections shape careers • Landing his first job in the U.S. and navigating the H-1B visa process • The importance of mentorship, relationships, and community Tushar also speaks candidly about his green card journey — a process he has been stuck in for over 12 years, despite coming legally, following every rule, and contributing professionally and financially. He describes the emotional toll, uncertainty, and frustration of living in limbo within a system that often feels deeply unfair to skilled Indian engineers. In a deeply personal moment, Tushar and Harshrajsinh talk about their fathers — both of whom they lost — reflecting on how important their fathers were in shaping their lives, the regrets of living abroad while parents remained in India, and the emotional weight many immigrants silently carry. The episode closes with Tushar offering honest advice to engineering students and international students who are considering coming to the United States — what to do, what to avoid, and what truly matters beyond degrees and visas. This conversation is for: • Indian engineers • H-1B visa holders • International students • Families of immigrants • Anyone who wants to understand the real cost of the American dream 🎧 If you’re navigating F-1, H-1B, or the green card process — this episode will resonate deeply. This episode reflects personal experiences and opinions and is not legal advice. Article Links - https://www.boundless.com/blog/indians-face-134-year-wait-employment-based-green-card https://www.business-standard.com/finance/personal-finance/100-yr-green-card-wait-indian-american-techie-warns-students-job-seekers-124081500177_1.html Support the show Join us every Sunday for new episodes at 8 AM (PST).
