▲ 13 r/developersIndia
MS in US vs Waiting for H4 Route — What’s the better long-term decision for a software engineer from India?
I’m a software engineer from India with ~4 years of experience, currently working in tech , earning 35LPA. My boyfriend is in the US Amazon and recently got selected for an H-1B visa.
I’m confused between two paths and would appreciate advice from people who have actually gone through this.
Option 1: Go for MS in the US now
- Main purpose is honestly to enter the US tech market and work there
- Cost would be around ₹45–50 lakhs including tuition + living
- I’m not very interested in studying/research itself
- Concerned about:
- Huge financial cost
- Opportunity cost of leaving my current job in India
- H1B lottery uncertainty even after graduation
Option 2: Wait, get married(in like 2 years), move on H-4 visa
- Much cheaper financially
- But I understand I likely won’t be able to work immediately unless my spouse gets an approved I-140 petition. Please, someone, tell me more about this? How does it work and how much time does it takes?
My actual goal
I mainly want just work in US for a while.
I’m also exploring internal transfer / direct sponsorship routes, but assuming those don’t work out, which path makes more sense in 2026?
Would really appreciate practical opinions from:
- People currently on H4
- Couples who went through similar decisions.
Thanks!
u/ActuaryNaive6337 — 4 days ago