This text is based on a conversation with 27-year-old engineer Sunjana Ramana, who moved from New York to London in February. It has been condensed and edited for clarity.
I come from a middle-class background in Hyderabad, India. I got accepted to Columbia University for a Master's in Electrical Engineering and moved to New York in August 2021. I wanted to enter the world of data science and engineering, and my goal was to meet the right people in the US – those working in large and successful companies – to build my network.
During the 4.5 years I spent in the US, I tried to get an H-1B visa, but failed after three attempts. In early 2026, I moved to London where I started exploring entrepreneurship. Instead of tying my dreams to being in America, I took a more open approach to my career and life.
I felt the pressure of student debt
I remember paying over $70,000. for my studies at Columbia, and my monthly living costs were around $2,000-2,500, which put me under a lot of financial pressure, even though my family supported me. At the same time, I worked three part-time jobs in addition to studying. My only goal was, “I can't fail.”
Many immigrant students come to the U.S. with a heavy financial burden that can be overwhelming at times. The common belief is that failure is not an option because the stakes are so high.
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I was disappointed that I never got an H-1B visa
I came to the USA on an F-1 student visa. After graduating in February 2023, I joined the global insurance company where I had previously interned. As a STEM graduate, I was entitled to a three-year work permit in the USA under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.
Once I started working, I began the process of applying for the coveted H-1B visa, a work visa that allows me to continue working in the U.S.. My employer submitted three applications for me: in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Each time I was refused.
Most people have high hopes of winning the H-1B lottery. I also felt that the third year would be “my year”. When it didn't work out again, I was really disappointed.
As a foreign student, you come to the USA with the belief that it is a country of greatest opportunities. You work with the best people and solve the most interesting problems. You want to maintain that continuity – no one wants to give up the life they've already built.
My STEM OPT period ended in early 2026 and since I did not receive an H‑1B visa, I had to leave the US.
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I focused on London and I am building my company here
When I didn't get my visa, I started exploring other options. For example, I took part in an AI summit, where I met people who left the US for Germany, Australia or the UK. I realized then that if you really want something, opportunities are everywhere.
After analyzing all the options, I chose London as my next destination and received a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa, which is a two-year work permit in the UK. It is flexible because it is not tied to one employer and does not require finding a job before submitting the application. It also allows you to easily run a business on your own account.
In the US, I always wanted to create something in the field of AI, so it was a great opportunity for me to finally fulfill my entrepreneurial dream.
I was accepted into the founder-in-residence program run by the Antler venture capital fund and started working on the first ideas and prototypes of my company Flax. It is a two-person technology start-up that helps support founders and creators in the field of AI.
Living in London is a learning process for me. I don't know anyone here, so I'm building everything from scratch and rebuilding my network of contacts. It's a little uncomfortable, but I've always wanted to do something of my own, and the vision for my company is becoming clearer over time.
An important moment was organizing our first stationary AI hackathon in London, in cooperation with Founders Factory and with the support of AWS. This event helped me feel part of the London ecosystem.
I hope to have the opportunity to return to New York in the future if I want. I felt good there and it was a great place to start my career. A week before I left, I went to the Brooklyn Bridge and felt very sad at the thought of never going back there.
I no longer associate my dreams with the USA
When I came to the United States as a 22-year-old, my “American Dream” was about career development, networking and global exposure. Today, as a 27-year-old, I see that it was a mistake to attribute these dreams to a specific country.
I would like to tell my younger self not to equate dreams with America – because it doesn't matter where you are. The dream should be in line with you and your goals.
One of the most important things I've learned is the importance of sharing your experience and building your personal brand online. You never know who will reach out to help.
When I wrote that I was moving out of the US, I was surprised by the overwhelming positive reactions online. I arranged coffee dates with people who commented on my post and welcomed me to London – and that led to more opportunities.
I also learned to trust the process. When I didn't get my H-1B visa, I felt like it was the end of everything I had built in three years. Later I realized that my perspective was narrow – there are many other paths beyond this one visa.
No matter what, don't lose hope.
This article is a translation from American edition of Business Insider
