Bengaluru woman cites “security” as one of her reasons for moving to the US; netizens agree: “Freedom > money”

The woman from Bengaluru said: “The visa game is a nightmare.”

A woman from Bengaluru who was initially undecided whether to stay in Silicon Valley or move abroad has finally decided to stay in the US. The woman, Viba Mohan, shared on X (formerly Twitter) four reasons for her decision to stay in the US.

Mohan cited the cultural atmosphere, particularly the “wild, relentless optimism” prevalent in the US, as the first reason. She wrote, “There are two things about the culture here that I love. First, the wild, relentless optimism. Everyone is excited about the possibilities, and if you fail, you just try again! The second is the craft. It's about perfecting your craft, and that spirit is contagious.”

Secondly, she highlighted safety in both public spaces and the workplace as a key factor. “It's a relief to be able to work without tiptoeing around a colleague who is obsessed with you and knows no boundaries. And the freedom to go for a walk or run without having to constantly look over your shoulder? Living in a safer place not only makes you feel calmer, but also more productive,” Mohan explained.

Mohan's third reason revolved around the complexity of the visa process. She explained, “The visa process is a nightmare. I knew I wasn't going to be tied down to an H1B visa or spend a fortune on a master's degree to move here. The O1 visa and the freedom it provides has made all of that much easier.”

She concluded by comparing the startup ecosystems of Bengaluru and San Francisco. “Bengaluru has some brilliant minds, no doubt! But the tech scene? It's often focused on fintech, last mile, e-commerce – the usual suspects. It's changing, which is great, but the problems I'm most interested in? Those are still being solved in SF,” Mohan noted.

She concluded by saying, “Bengaluru will always be the place where my heart is. It's where I made the best friends and learned the most. But for what I want to do, America is the right place right now.”

Mohan's post, which was shared a few days ago, has now received over 137,000 views. Netizens have shared their reactions:

“I agree with most of the points; I will also add infrastructure and civic spirit here,” wrote one user. “I stayed in the US for over 10 years and came back to India to start my own business. There are pros and cons to both, so stay where you are happy. In India, the most important thing for me is that I was able to stay and support my mother. Also, I earn much more now than I did in the US, but technically the US was great,” said another.

“Smart decision! Freedom > money > quality of life, including infrastructure, climate, sun, water, nature > friends and family > health infrastructure,” commented a third.