The story of Disha Lamba H-1B visa return has attracted widespread attention after the Indian data scientist left a six-figure U.S. job and moved back to Gurugram in May 2026. Her decision came shortly after her employer-sponsored H-1B selection, making her case unusual for an international professional who had already established a successful career in New York.
Lamba, 28, had spent about five years in the United States. She moved to New York in 2021 to pursue a master’s degree in computer engineering at New York University. After completing her studies, she entered the technology workforce and joined CVS Health as a data scientist in 2024.
Her professional situation appeared strong. She had a six-figure salary, a U.S. career and an employer willing to sponsor her immigration process. CVS Health sponsored her H-1B application, and she learned in March 2026 that she had been selected in the lottery.
Instead of treating that selection as the next step toward a longer U.S. career, Lamba decided to leave. She resigned from her job and returned to India in May.
Her explanation focused on two major issues: family and the limitations she associated with living and working under an H-1B.
Who Is Disha Lamba?
Disha Lamba is an Indian technology professional who worked as a data scientist in the United States.
She arrived in America in 2021 at age 23. Her goal at the time was education. She enrolled at New York University to pursue a master’s degree in computer engineering.
Moving to New York became much more than an academic experience. Lamba has described the city as an important period of personal growth.
Living independently in a new country pushed her outside the environment she knew in India. She became more confident and ambitious while learning how to manage life on her own.
New York also introduced her to activities she had not previously experienced. She developed an interest in hiking and became more adventurous during her years in the United States.
Her professional network grew as well. Industry events helped her meet people in the technology field, eventually contributing to her opportunity with CVS Health.
Her Career at CVS Health
Lamba joined CVS Health as a data scientist in 2024.
She reportedly found the opportunity after meeting a senior data scientist from the company at a networking event in New York. That connection encouraged her to apply for the position.
The role represented a major professional achievement after graduate school.
Lamba was earning a six-figure salary and had built a life that included work, friends and independence. She has said that she was happy with her job and social life in America.
Her career also put her in a position to pursue employer sponsorship.
CVS Health sponsored her H-1B application, giving her an opportunity to continue her professional career in the United States through the employment-based immigration system.
Her H-1B Selection Came in March 2026
The timing of Lamba’s H-1B selection is one of the most notable parts of her story.
She was informed in March 2026 that she had been selected in the H-1B lottery through her employer’s sponsorship.
For many international graduates, such news can represent a major turning point. The H-1B system is highly competitive, and obtaining employer sponsorship can be an important step for professionals seeking to continue their U.S. careers.
Lamba understood that significance.
She also knew that many international students and workers struggle to obtain sponsorship and may have to leave the United States when they cannot secure an eligible immigration path.
Yet her selection did not change the decision she had already made.
By the time she received the news, she had already concluded that she eventually wanted to return to India.
That decision became reality only two months later.
Why Did Disha Lamba Return to India?
Family was the biggest reason behind Lamba’s decision.
Although she had created a successful life in New York, she found it difficult to remain so far away from her parents.
The emotional distance became increasingly important to her. Lamba has described her mother as her best friend and explained that living in the United States meant missing everyday moments with her family.
The difference was not only about major celebrations or occasional visits.
For Lamba, being away meant missing ordinary experiences. She wanted to be able to spend time with her parents, see them regularly and share everyday routines.
Her six-figure income could provide financial comfort, but it could not replace that connection.
That realization helped change the way she viewed her U.S. career.
Loneliness Played an Important Role
Lamba’s decision was also influenced by loneliness.
She had friends in New York and enjoyed her professional life. Still, she described feeling lonely despite having a comfortable lifestyle.
Living independently had helped her become more confident, but it also meant handling difficult moments without her family nearby.
The experience changed her priorities.
A successful career had been important when she moved to America. Over time, however, she began placing greater value on family proximity and emotional well-being.
That did not mean she considered her U.S. experience unsuccessful.
Quite the opposite.
Lamba has acknowledged that America helped shape her personality and career. She became more independent and developed professionally.
Her return was therefore a personal choice rather than a rejection of everything she experienced in the United States.
H-1B Restrictions Also Influenced Her Decision
The other major issue was her discomfort with the restrictions associated with the H-1B system.
Lamba said she was uneasy about the immigration requirements that could affect travel, employment changes, career breaks and other professional decisions.
One concern involved international travel.
She understood that traveling outside the United States could require additional visa-stamping steps before returning, depending on her circumstances. She was concerned about the practical difficulties involved in managing that process.
The employment relationship also influenced her thinking.
An H-1B is tied to qualifying employment and an approved petition. Changing jobs can require a new employer to take the necessary immigration steps.
For someone who wants maximum career flexibility, that structure can feel restrictive.
Lamba also expressed concerns about taking a career break.
She wanted the ability to step away from work without having her immigration status become part of the decision.
That flexibility became more attractive after she returned to India.
Why the H-1B Was Not Enough to Keep Her in America
Lamba’s story is unusual because she had already achieved something many international professionals work toward for years.
She had a graduate degree from a major American university.
She had a technology job.
She had a six-figure salary.
She had employer sponsorship.
She had also received an H-1B lottery selection.
Despite all those advantages, she still decided to leave.
The reason was not simply money or employment.
Her priorities had changed.
The H-1B opportunity represented professional security, but Lamba viewed the immigration requirements as another factor she would have to manage throughout her career.
She ultimately decided that the benefits were not enough to outweigh the personal and practical concerns she had developed.
Her Move Back to Gurugram
Lamba returned to Gurugram, India, in May 2026.
Importantly, she did not wait until she had another job offer in India.
She chose to leave her U.S. position first and then consider what she wanted to do next.
That approach gave her something she felt was difficult to achieve under her U.S. immigration circumstances: time.
Back in India, she could take a career break and reassess her professional plans without making every decision around maintaining an employment-based immigration status.
She has been exploring future employment opportunities while spending more time with her family.
The change also brought her back into a familiar environment.
After years of living independently in New York, being close to her parents gave her a different kind of comfort.
What She Misses About the United States
Lamba’s return does not mean she suddenly stopped appreciating America.
She has acknowledged that she had a good life in the United States.
New York gave her independence and confidence. It also provided opportunities that played a significant role in her professional development.
She enjoyed her job, had a social life and earned a salary that many professionals would consider attractive.
She also discovered interests and experiences that changed her outlook.
Her decision to return to India therefore involved trade-offs.
She gained proximity to family and greater flexibility, but she also left behind parts of American life that she enjoyed.
That makes her story more nuanced than a simple comparison between the United States and India.
The Significance of Leaving After H-1B Selection
The timing of Lamba’s departure is what makes her story particularly striking.
Many international professionals view H-1B selection as a major career milestone.
For Lamba, it arrived after she had already decided to return home.
She did not spend years trying to obtain sponsorship only to discover that she was unsuccessful.
Her employer sponsored her application, and she was selected.
She still left.
That difference is important.
Her story does not suggest that obtaining an H-1B is undesirable for everyone. Instead, it shows that even a successful immigration outcome may not match someone’s long-term personal priorities.
For Lamba, the decision came down to what she wanted from her life rather than what she could earn in the United States.
Disha Lamba’s Experience With Life in New York
New York played a major role in Lamba’s development.
When she first arrived, she was a 23-year-old graduate student adjusting to a completely different environment.
Over the following years, she learned to handle daily life independently.
She also developed professionally.
Her career progression from graduate student to data scientist demonstrated the opportunities she found in the American technology sector.
The city also changed her personality.
She became more willing to travel, explore new places and try activities outside her previous comfort zone.
Those changes remain part of her experience even after returning to India.
Her decision to leave does not erase what New York gave her.
A Career Break Became Possible After Returning Home
One of the benefits Lamba highlighted after returning to India was the ability to pause.
She has been able to take time to think about her next professional move.
That is important because career breaks can be complicated for workers whose immigration status depends heavily on employment.
In India, Lamba can reassess her options without having the same U.S. immigration considerations attached to her employment.
She can explore opportunities at her own pace while remaining close to her family.
The decision also gives her room to consider what kind of career she wants next.
Her story suggests that professional success is not always about continuing on the same path.
Sometimes it involves stepping away from a successful position to reassess priorities.
Where Disha Lamba Is Now
As of the latest confirmed updates available on September 2, 2026, Lamba is back in Gurugram.
She is no longer working in her former New York position at CVS Health.
She is exploring professional opportunities while enjoying more time with her parents and family.
There is no confirmed information establishing a current plan for her to return to the United States.
Her current situation is best described as a transition.
She has left behind her U.S. job and the immigration path she had been pursuing, but she continues to have professional experience in data science and a graduate education from NYU.
Her future career direction remains open.
What Her Story Says About Career and Immigration Choices
Lamba’s experience highlights a side of U.S. immigration that can be overlooked.
People often focus on salaries, career opportunities and the competition for H-1B selection.
Those factors matter.
However, immigration decisions also affect everyday life.
Travel plans, employment changes, career breaks and distance from family can influence whether someone wants to remain in the United States.
Lamba’s decision demonstrates how those personal considerations can become more important over time.
She had already achieved a career that many international graduates hope to build.
Yet she decided that being close to her family was more important.
Disha Lamba H-1B Visa Return: Latest Confirmed Update
The latest confirmed details about Lamba’s move can be summarized simply:
- She is 28 years old.
- She moved to the United States in 2021.
- She studied computer engineering at New York University.
- She built a career in data science after graduate school.
- She joined CVS Health in 2024.
- Her employer sponsored her H-1B application.
- She learned of her H-1B lottery selection in March 2026.
- She resigned from her U.S. position in May 2026.
- She returned to Gurugram in May.
- Family was a central reason for her decision.
- Loneliness also influenced her choice.
- She expressed concerns about H-1B-related restrictions.
- She is now considering her next professional opportunities in India.
The story is notable because Lamba walked away from a six-figure U.S. career even after reaching an immigration milestone that many professionals consider highly valuable.
Her experience ultimately came down to priorities. She valued her American education and career, but she wanted greater freedom and closer family connections.
For her, returning home was not simply about leaving a job. It was about choosing the environment in which she wanted to live the next part of her life.
What do you think about Disha Lamba’s decision to leave her U.S. career and return to India? Share your thoughts and stay updated as her next chapter develops.