The H-1B Visa Dilemma: An International Student's Journey and Return to Peru
This story chronicles the eight-year journey of Luciana Pereyra, a Peruvian national who arrived in the United States on a tennis scholarship at the age of 17. Her pursuit of higher education and a professional career in America was abruptly interrupted when she lost her H-1B sponsored employment in late 2025. This unforeseen event triggered a challenging 60-day period during which she desperately sought new sponsorship to remain in the country. Despite her relentless efforts and impressive qualifications, the complexities of the immigration system and an unfavorable job market ultimately led to her return to Peru in March 2026. Her experience highlights the significant hurdles faced by international workers on H-1B visas, underscoring the constant uncertainty that can accompany their professional and personal lives in the U.S.
A Transcontinental Journey: From Lima's Courts to Ohio's Campuses and Back
Luciana Pereyra, a vibrant 25-year-old originally from Lima, Peru, embarked on a significant life change at 17 when she relocated to the United States. Driven by a passion for tennis, which she cultivated from the age of seven, she secured a coveted tennis scholarship. Her academic pursuits led her through Middle Georgia State University before she transferred to the University of Findlay in Ohio. There, she not only distinguished herself as a varsity tennis player for four years but also achieved an impressive 4.0 GPA, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in May 2022. Capitalizing on extended NCAA eligibility due to the pandemic, she furthered her education with an MBA at the same institution, graduating the following year.
In October 2022, Luciana initiated her professional job search. Despite facing numerous rejections due to her need for sponsorship, she successfully secured a Marketing and Communications Specialist role at Ohio State's College of Nursing. Her H-1B visa approval arrived in April 2024, marking a significant milestone in her American journey. Settling into her own apartment in Columbus and gaining financial independence, Luciana began to build a life in the U.S., though a lingering sense of impermanence prevented her from fully investing in her surroundings. This precarious stability was shattered in late 2025 when the College of Nursing underwent restructuring, leading to the termination of her position on December 15. She was given a mere 60 days to find new employment that would sponsor her H-1B visa or face mandatory departure from the country.
The timing of her layoff, coinciding with university winter breaks, severely hampered her job search. She strategically focused her efforts on other universities, hoping for greater openness to sponsoring international workers. A promising interview in Chicago collapsed when the company, upon learning of her sponsorship needs, rescinded the offer. A subsequent opportunity at Ohio State also fell through just two weeks before her departure deadline, due to complications with visa approval timelines and new H-1B fees. The emotional toll of this relentless search culminated in a heartfelt conversation with her mother in February, where the exhaustion of her situation became overwhelmingly clear. By March, Luciana, having packed eight years of her life into two suitcases, returned to Peru, severing her lease and her volunteer commitments in her American community.
Back in Peru for the past five months, Luciana has discovered a newfound sense of liberation, free from the constant shadow of visa regulations. She now skillfully juggles freelance marketing work for a U.S. client, tennis coaching, and the burgeoning growth of her own small business, Casuma. Launched in July, Casuma produces unique flavored cashew butters, blending American nut-butter traditions with distinctive Peruvian ingredients like lucuma and cacao. With a trademark secured and nearly 50 jars already sold, Luciana is also relishing the opportunity to reconnect deeply with her family, including her two younger brothers. Reflecting on her journey, she recently revisited the U.S. for a wedding in July but expressed no immediate desire to relocate there permanently. Her experience has solidified her resolve that any future move abroad would require a clear pathway to permanent residency, eschewing the transient nature of work visas. Luciana advises others to view the experience of studying and working in the U.S. as a valuable, albeit temporary, chapter, rather than a permanent settlement. She notes that while her U.S. degrees and work experience are significant, they did not effortlessly open all doors, challenging the common misconception that immigrants easily take American jobs. Her personal struggle highlighted the persistent need for international workers to continually prove their worth in a complex and often unforgiving system.