A New Chapter for H-1B Tech Workers: How One Coach Helps Them Reclaim Control Amid Visa Uncertainty

When the U.S. government announced a new $100,000 fee for certain H-1B visa petitions in September 2025, the shockwaves were immediate. The policy, introduced under the Trump administration, was meant to “protect American jobs” and prioritize higher-wage applicants. But for thousands of international professionals already living and working in the country, it felt like the ground had shifted beneath their feet.

Among those helping them navigate this uncertain terrain is Faranak Firozan, an executive life coach who has quietly become a trusted guide for foreign-born tech workers trying to build stable lives in an unstable policy climate.

A Sudden Change, and a Wave of Anxiety

The rule applies primarily to new H-1B visa petitions filed from outside the U.S., yet its psychological impact spread far beyond its intended reach. Even current visa holders—those safely employed at companies like Google, Meta, or JPMorgan—began to worry about their futures. Would employers hesitate to transfer them? Would promotions be postponed or job mobility shrink?

“Even though the fee doesn’t directly affect most of my clients, the message behind it did,” Firozan said. “They heard: You’re less wanted now. And that fear seeps into every part of their professional and personal life.”

Major corporations scrambled to respond. Some advised employees abroad to return to the U.S. immediately before the policy took effect. Others quietly began scaling back international hiring altogether. What was meant as a regulatory tweak quickly became a test of resilience for thousands of skilled immigrants.

Coaching Through Culture, Pressure, and Uncertainty

For many of these professionals—software engineers from India, product managers from Brazil, or data scientists from Turkey—the visa challenge is only part of the story. They also carry the invisible weight of family expectations, cultural adjustment, and the loneliness that often accompanies living abroad.

Firozan’s work goes beyond career strategy sessions. “My clients are navigating much more than visas,” she explained. “They’re processing burnout, isolation, and identity struggles. They’re trying to understand how to thrive when everything around them feels temporary.”

In one session, a systems architect from Hyderabad confessed he couldn’t even celebrate his promotion because of the visa news. “He told me, ‘What’s the point if I don’t know where I’ll be next year?’” she recalled. “That’s the emotional cost you won’t see in policy briefings—but it’s very real.”

The Story Behind the Coach

Faranak Firozan is an executive life coach whose work is shaped by her own cross-cultural upbringing. Born and raised in California to Iranian immigrant parents, she grew up witnessing the quiet struggles behind polished résumés—the anxiety, identity conflicts, and sense of disconnection that many ambitious professionals hide.

“I learned early that success without belonging doesn’t feel like success,” she said. “That’s why my coaching focuses on helping people define achievement in a more human way—one that includes peace, joy, and community.”

Her sessions combine emotional processing with practical strategy. Clients leave with personalized frameworks for decision-making, communication tools for high-pressure workplaces, and a renewed sense of agency—even in times of uncertainty.

Building Resilience in the Tech World

As word of her approach spreads, HR leaders and diversity officers across Silicon Valley have taken notice. Many now see her coaching as a way to support global talent beyond compliance checkboxes.

“Companies are realizing that when visa uncertainty hits, it doesn’t just affect paperwork—it affects morale, retention, and leadership growth,” she said.

In response, Firozan is launching a new series of private coaching seminars tailored for H-1B employees. The sessions will help participants understand the implications of the new visa rules, adapt to shifting job markets, and strengthen their personal and professional networks.

“The worst advice we can give right now is ‘just wait it out,’” she said. “These people left everything familiar to be here. They deserve to build full lives—not just survive until the next immigration cycle.”

A New Path Forward

At a time when policy shifts and market volatility threaten to define the careers of foreign-born professionals, Firozan’s work offers something rare: hope grounded in reality.

Her message to every H-1B worker she coaches is simple but powerful—you are more than your visa status. And through her blend of empathy, strategy, and cultural insight, she’s helping them believe it again.