Letting go of the American Dream as a former visa holder
In 2018, Vivienne Yang moved from Taiwan to New York City, where she earned a master’s degree in applied analytics from Columbia University. After being laid off from her ad-tech job in 2024, she was forced to leave behind the life she had built in New York.
In September 2025, President Trump set in motion a shift that threw the H-1B visa application process into disarray. His proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions transformed the immigration landscape for employers, employees, and visa hopefuls alike.
Since last September, Themoneytimes 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.
In 2018, Vivienne Yang moved from Taiwan to New York City, where she earned a master’s degree in applied analytics from Columbia University. After being laid off from her ad-tech job in 2024, she was forced to leave behind the life she had built in New York.
In September 2025, President Trump set in motion a shift that threw the H-1B visa application process into disarray. His proposed $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions transformed the immigration landscape for employers, employees, and visa hopefuls alike.
Since last September, Themoneytimes 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.