As the US suspends a key green card step for several major Indian IT firms, entrepreneur and Shark Tank India judge and Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal has shared how he gave up his own green card, and why he sees America's immigration turmoil as an opportunity for India.
Recently, the US government suspended several major technology and outsourcing firms, including Infosys, TCS, Wipro,
HCL Technologies
, Cognizant and Capgemini, from the Permanent Labor Certification Programme (PERM), a key route used by employers to sponsor foreign workers for employment-based green cards. The action also affects Microsoft and Adobe, with US authorities stating that they will neither accept new applications nor process pending labour certification requests involving the companies.The move has raised concerns among thousands of foreign workers, particularly Indians employed in the US technology sector. While the suspension does not affect existing H-1B visas, it could delay or block one of the most important pathways to permanent residency in the United States.
Anupam Mittal recalls his own Green Card dilemma
In a post shared on professional networking platform LinkedIn, Mittal shared a personal story about giving up his own Green Card years ago.
Mittal said that, like many ambitious young Indians, he had once dreamed of building a life in America. He said he achieved that goal through a strong education, a successful job and financial success, becoming a multimillionaire within a few years."Within four years, I was a multimillionaire living the American dream. Then came the Green Card. I was ecstatic. But somehow the feeling was fleeting," he wrote. Mittal said that despite receiving permanent residency, he decided to move back to India in 2004 to build companies.
However, he continued travelling to the US every year to maintain his residency status, even as he struggled with whether he should hold on to the Green Card.
'The officer looked at me like I was crazy'
The entrepreneur recounted visiting the US consulate in Mumbai to surrender the document. According to Mittal, the consular officer was surprised by his decision and urged him to reconsider."The officer looked at me like I was crazy. 'Think about this. Once you give it up, you may never get it back'," Mittal wrote.
He jokingly described the exchange as "full emotional atyachar", adding that he ultimately walked out of the office with the Green Card still in his pocket.A year later, however, he returned and completed the process. "This time, I handed it over. And I walked out feeling lighter than I had in years. For the first time, both my feet were on the same side," he said.Mittal used the story to reflect on changing attitudes among Indian entrepreneurs and professionals.
He said that had he remained in the United States, he might have become a wealthy technology executive. Instead, returning to India allowed him to build companies, invest in more than 300 startups and become part of the country's growing startup ecosystem.
Read Anupam Mittal’s complete post here
Like most ambitious Indian kids, I dreamt of life in America.And I got there! Great education & job. More money than I had imagined.Within four years, I was a multimillionaire living the American dream. Then came the Green Card. I was ecstatic.But somehow the feeling was fleeting.So in 2004, I came back to India to build.But every year, I still flew back to the US to give 'hazri' & I struggled with the feeling.So I went to the consulate in Mumbai to surrender the Green Card.The officer looked at me like I was crazy.“Think about this. Once you give it up, you may never get it back.”Full emotional atyachar - walked out with it still in my pocket 😅A year later, I went back.This time, I handed it over.And I walked out feeling lighter than I had in years.For the first time, both my feet were on the same side. 🇮🇳Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had stayed.I probably would have been a wealthy VP at a tech company, eating once a week at an Indian restaurant worrying that AI would take my job.I would not have built the companies I did, backed 300+ Indian startups, or sat on @sharktank India watching new Indian founders dream bigger than we ever did.Which is why I look at the H-1B and Green Card turmoil in America differently.For decades, success meant a life in the USA. That story is finally breaking.And I think that's a very good thing🔥The time is here to build global tech & brand companies from India.Sometimes a closing door is what makes you realize where home is.