India, Aug. 2 -- An Indian graduate on the US STEM Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT) program has struck a chord online after sharing her dilemma over whether to stay in the United States for one final attempt at securing an H-1B visa or return to India to be with her family.

The 27-year-old, who posted on Reddit, said she came to the US in August 2022 to pursue a master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) with hopes of building a career in user experience (UX), product design and artificial intelligence. Instead, she wrote, years of unemployment, layoffs and financial stress have left her "completely burned out."

In her post, the graduate said she spent nearly one-and-a-half years unemployed after completing her degree and...