I embarked on a new life in the US for my H-1B visa-holding husband, enduring solitude as a 'visa bride' before finding my sense of belonging.

In 2021, I met my husband through a dating app. He relocated to the United States back in 2009 and visited Mumbai, where I lived, for family.

That visit sparked our global love affair. By April 2022, after a year-long cross-border romance from the US to India, we tied the knot in Mumbai, a city that had been my home for 36 years. Six months post-wedding, I transitioned from bustling Mumbai to the tranquil landscape of Sunnyvale in San Francisco's Bay Area, leaving my position as the managing editor of an online business magazine, and parting with close family and friends. My husband’s tech industry position on an H-1B visa enabled my move to the States on an H-4 dependent visa.

Upon my arrival in the US, the excitement surrounding our marriage was swiftly overshadowed by a profound identity crisis. Although I was overjoyed to have found my dream partner, mirroring a Bollywood fairy tale, the label of being a 'trailing spouse' grated on me, as it demanded that I prioritize the relationship over career stability. The vibrant editor and team leader in Mumbai became a distant memory. Loneliness compounded these challenges, and only after three tumultuous years did Sunnyvale begin to feel like my home.

Experiencing an emotional unraveling in slow motion

Having traveled extensively and spoken English fluently, I faced little cultural adjustment moving to America, exempting the Western 'do-it-yourself' ethos. As a privileged Bombayite accustomed to household help, adapting to self-sufficiency in food preparation was a reluctant journey through fast food indulgence until mastering basic cooking.

Initially, I envisioned a brief hiatus after my move. It took approximately half a year to secure my Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before I could resume my journalism career with fresh notepad in hand.

Securing a full-time position proved arduous. I tirelessly scoured online job listings for writing roles, but faced consistent rejections or silence.

Isolation exacerbated these professional setbacks. I often categorize peers like me as 'visa brides,' navigating this journey alone and devoid of shared burdens.

Although I've formed friendships eventually, the initial struggle to bond was intense. Loneliness permeates Californian suburbs—a stark contrast to Mumbai's vibrancy. With considerable distances separating locations of interest and an inadequate public transportation system, one often relies on their vehicle as an essential extension.

Months into my new American life, the feelings surpassed mere homesickness. Frequent tears, public emotional breakdowns, disturbed sleep, and eroding confidence marked my days, as if my emotional health disintegrated in slow motion.

Gradually reclaiming economic independence

Learning to drive and obtaining my driver’s license in early 2023 played a significant role in my emotional restoration. Once fearful, I now embraced driving, severing dependency from my husband for mobility and gaining terrain familiarity.

One of my initial long journeys led to Turlock, a settlement nearly 100 miles away, where I engaged in a live poetry recitation.

Initially financially dependent on my husband, I gradually achieved financial autonomy over three years through freelance writing, eventually leasing my own stylish black Tesla.

Writing serves as the anchor in recovering my personal identity

I am far from being the first to step into the role of a 'visa wife,' and certainly not the last. My narrative echoes those of countless women who have crossed oceans, leaving behind loved ones and careers for love. My immigration story taught me that personal skills journey with us and, when paired with self-belief, can carve out a renewed professional path.

During these trying times, I've fortified my identity as a writer. My portfolio has expanded to include news articles for local media, diverse literary works, and essays rooted in my immigration experiences. 'Home' is defined by recognition, and the career foothold I've built has deepened my sense of belonging in America.

Nevertheless, despite securing temporary roles like freelance and contract assignments, a stable full-time position eludes me. After evaluating, I attribute this barrier not to personal failings, but to flawed job-application algorithms, an ever-shifting market landscape, and a regional bias towards tech skills, leaving a scarcity of demand for writers.

While I create narratives instead of coding systems, I relate to Scheherazade from the 'Arabian Nights.' Her thousand-night storytelling mission for survival mirrors my Silicon Valley journey of over a thousand days, making my survival as an evolving storyteller almost inevitable.