I moved to the US on a green card. I wouldn't do the same today on an H-1B visa.

Mohamed Zeeshan self-petitioned for a green card in 2021.Courtesy of Mohamed ZeeshanMohamed Zeeshan moved to the US as a green card holder in 2023.He was drawn to American liberties, such as free speech and a lack of bureaucracy.

But Zeeshan is concerned about how visa uncertainty is affecting immigrants today.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mohamed Zeeshan, 32, an Indian national and green card holder, who lives in Arlington, Virginia. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

My parents are both Indian. I was born in Indonesia because my father's job took him there, but we moved back to India when I was 7. In Indonesia, everyone knew me as the Indian kid, and in India, everyone knew me as the kid from Indonesia.

Since I'd spent my early life as a foreigner, I developed an interest in international affairs. That led me to the US, where I pursued a master's in the field at Columbia in 2016. This is part of our ongoing coverage of how the Trump administration's H-1B visa changes affect workers.

If you've been impacted and want to share your story, please fill out this short form for the reporter. The US drew me because I was enamored by Ivy League universities. I was also a huge fan of President Barack Obama, who I related to because he grew up in Indonesia and has spoken publicly about his identity across different cultures.

Zeeshan studied international affairs at Columbia.Courtesy of Mohamed ZeeshanMy family was apprehensive about my decision. I come from a family of engineers, doctors, bankers, and lawyers, and an education in international affairs was seen as foreign and unconventional, but we struck a bargain; I could do it if I secured some tuition assistance.

I graduated from Columbia in 2018 and secured a green card in 2023. I'm patriotic about American values and would like to become a US citizen. Recently, I've grown concerned that it's becoming increasingly uncertain and unpredictable for immigrants to build a life here.

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