Ananya Joshi moved from India to the US in 2022 to pursue a master's degree in biotechnology at Northwestern University. After graduating, she began working as a scientist at a cultivated meat startup in Chicago. She planned to continue building her life in the US, but her employer backed out of sponsoring her for an H-1B. Her work option could not be renewed, and her F-1 visa was cut short. In September 2025, President 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 employers, employees, and visa hopefuls alike. 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. Correction: Joshi's lower third should be "Former F-1 Visa student." Read more about Joshi...