Tech Entrepreneur Leaves US After 15 Years in Green Card Backlog, Relocates Family to India
Astha Chaturvedi, a tech entrepreneur who spent 15 years in the US on work visas, moved her family to Bengaluru, India after becoming frustrated with the endless green card backlog. She and her husband had been waiting for permanent residency since 2015 and 2020 respectively, with no clear timeline for approval. The move reflects a broader trend of skilled immigrants reconsidering their commitment to the US amid visa delays and immigration uncertainty.
Astha Chaturvedi, 38, a tech entrepreneur who founded Mouri Living, relocated her family from San Francisco to Bengaluru, India in early 2024 after spending over 15 years in the United States on work visas. She and her husband, both originally from India, had been caught in the green card backlog—his application dating to 2015 and hers to 2020—with no clear path to permanent residency. The decision was catalyzed by a business opportunity: while traveling to India to hire a CTO for her startup, a cousin suggested opening an office there, leading the couple to explore relocation. The move also enabled Chaturvedi to pursue entrepreneurship more freely, as she had been constrained by H-1B visa sponsorship requirements. The family sold their San Francisco home for approximately $2.3 million and purchased a four-bedroom apartment in Bengaluru for about $1 million. Chaturvedi notes that while India's cost of living can be comparable to the US for a premium lifestyle, the move represents a significant shift in their long-term plans.
What's missing
The article does not provide specific data on the overall size of the green card backlog, typical wait times for applicants in Chaturvedi's employment-based category, or broader statistics on how many skilled immigrants have similarly relocated due to visa delays. Additionally, there is no discussion of the legal or tax implications of relocating a US-based startup to India, or how this move affects her business operations.
What different sources said
- Business InsiderLeft
My husband and I spent years waiting for green cards. We left the US and built the life we wanted in India.
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