Why I'm So Determined to Get a U.S. Green Card (as an H1B Holder)

General
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Hey folks, just wanted to share my personal journey and thoughts - maybe it’ll resonate with some of you who are on the same path.

I’m currently on an H1B visa, but unlike many others who may be comfortable sticking with H1B and simply working for their employers year after year, I’ve always had a strong drive to secure a U.S. Green Card. Recently, after several deep discussions with my therapist, I was finally able to articulate why I care so much about it.

My mindset boils down to three core principles:

  1. Autonomy over my life:
    I don’t want my life choices - where I live, work, or travel - to be dictated by my immigration status. Having a Green Card gives me a sense of long-term security and freedom.

  2. Certainty:
    The uncertainty of visa renewals, job dependency, and immigration processing timelines is exhausting. I wanted to proactively eliminate this instability from my life as early as possible.

  3. No compromise on my values:
    For me, enduring the constant compromises that come with visa restrictions felt like a constant form of “life taxation.” I’m willing to sacrifice comfort and short-term ease to avoid accepting trade-offs that don’t align with my values.

Because of these reasons, I’ve been very deliberate about my path. I started planning as early as 2020, and by 2021/2022 I had my goals set. In 2023 I started actively working on my EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver) application, and finally submitted in 2024. Along the way, I’ve declined some very comfortable job offers that would have made life easier but didn’t align with my long-term plan.

One thing that really helped me was identifying my personal “top 3 values” - things that serve as my inner compass:

  • Growth
  • Stability
  • Self-Respect

Whenever I feel lost or unsure, I return to these values to guide my choices. Even when it’s difficult, even when it feels lonely at times, knowing I’m living according to my true priorities gives me peace of mind.

If you’re on a similar path - OPT, H1B, NIW, PERM, or just weighing whether to pursue permanent residency - I hope sharing my thought process might help you clarify your own “why.” This isn’t just a legal status for me - it’s about life ownership.

1 Like
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Thx for sharing! I’m still at the very first stage of the journey lol Getting a green card is harder and harder nowadays.. So it only took you around 2 years to get NIW? If possible can you share more about your career development and experiences?

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Thanks for sharing, was very curious about what makes a job not align with your long term goal?

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Thank you for sharing your journey so openly. It’s a powerful reminder that immigration isn’t just about paperwork, but about building the kind of life we want with intention and purpose.

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I’m curious, why are you set on a Green Card in the US as opposed to another country?

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This hits hard. Most people talk about immigration like it’s just paperwork or a career move, but you nailed what it really is, a battle for personal agency. Framing it in terms of autonomy, certainty, and values makes it crystal clear why the Green Card journey isn’t just about staying in the U.S. It’s about reclaiming control over your life.

I respect how intentional your path has been. Turning down comfortable opportunities in favor of long-term alignment takes serious courage. That’s not easy when everyone around you is optimizing for short-term wins.

Thanks for sharing your inner compass too. Growth, stability, and self-respect are underrated filters in a world that constantly tells us to settle or compromise. This post is a reminder that immigration isn’t just a process, it’s identity work.