Most people see names like Amazon, Apple, and TikTok on a resume and assume the path was smooth. But behind every logo was a moment where things could’ve gone completely sideways — where the only thing keeping me going was strategy, stubbornness, and a backup plan (or three).
This is the real story behind how I broke into FAANG+ companies more than once — and how I navigated career moves while balancing the invisible weight of immigration uncertainty.
🛠️ Chapter 1: The Strategic Play — Amazon Offer, Apple Dream
During my Master’s in Computer Science, I landed a software engineering internship at Amazon. It went well, and I was offered a full-time role — the dream scenario for most international students. After all, Amazon was one of the biggest names in the industry, and this offer alone would’ve been a huge win for anyone in my position.
But I didn’t accept it immediately. I took a strategic approach. Instead of taking the Amazon offer right away, I used it as leverage. It wasn’t about arrogance or trying to play hardball with Amazon — it was about smart career planning.
I had my eyes set on Apple. I knew that having a strong offer in hand from Amazon would allow me to expedite the interview process at other companies. And that’s exactly what happened. I lined up interviews with Apple and kept the momentum going. When the Apple offer finally came through, I knew it was time to make my move. I turned down Amazon, confident that Apple would provide the growth opportunities I was looking for.
Lesson: Leverage is powerful. Having an offer in hand gives you the flexibility to negotiate and speed up other opportunities, ultimately enabling you to make a move that aligns with your long-term goals.
🍏 Chapter 2: Evolving at Apple — From Automation to ML
Apple was an incredible place for me to grow professionally. I spent five years there, and the experience was like a masterclass in engineering, design, and execution. The scale and the technical challenges were immense, but what really kept me going was the opportunity to evolve.
I transitioned from automation engineering to machine learning, which was a big leap for me. It required not only learning new skills but also rebuilding my internal network within Apple. The shift from automation to ML wasn’t easy, but it pushed me in ways that I didn’t expect. It became a defining part of my career, as I took on new challenges and learned from some of the brightest minds in the industry.
During this time, I also started my green card process. I got my EB2 I-140 approved, which felt like a major win at the time. But for those of us from India, even an I-140 approval isn’t the end of the road. The priority date for green cards for Indian nationals is usually years (sometimes decades) away, so it’s a waiting game — one that can limit your job mobility and future planning.
That said, having the I-140 approved gave me a sense of psychological relief. It was just enough to give me the confidence to start thinking about my next steps. And for me, that meant moving back to Seattle.
💼 Chapter 3: Amazon Again — and the RFE Curveball
Returning to Seattle felt like the right move. I had loved working at Amazon previously, and their offer was exciting. The role, the team, everything seemed perfect. But when it came to my H1B transfer from Apple to Amazon, I encountered a massive roadblock: an RFE (Request for Evidence) from USCIS.
Suddenly, my career momentum ground to a halt. My visa transfer was delayed for months. I couldn’t start at Amazon, and worse, I couldn’t even legally work anywhere else. This left me in a frustrating limbo, where I was technically in the U.S. but unable to do anything productive.
But I made a key decision during this period: I didn’t resign from Apple until the RFE was resolved. Why? Because I couldn’t afford to burn bridges without knowing the outcome. I couldn’t make a job change until the paperwork was solid, so I waited until everything was in place.
While waiting on the RFE, I didn’t sit still. I reached out to TikTok and began interviewing there. I knew I had to keep my options open. And I wasn’t just applying to jobs — I was making sure I had the best possible backup plan in case things didn’t work out with Amazon.
🎯 Chapter 4: TikTok — High Reward, High Risk
When TikTok made an offer, it was tempting: a better salary, broader scope of work, and the chance to be part of something rapidly growing and impactful. But there was a huge risk associated with the move: What if TikTok gets banned in the U.S.?
At the time, TikTok was facing political uncertainty, and there was genuine fear that it might be banned due to its ownership and concerns over national security. This was a high-risk situation, but I decided to take the plunge — with a carefully planned strategy to mitigate the risks.
Here’s where the strategy came in: I switched from H1B to H4 (through my wife’s H1B visa) and activated a consular H1B, which allowed me to retain my original H1B status but without triggering new immigration risks. This meant that if TikTok faced any legal or political challenges, I’d have an escape route to switch back to my H1B status — essentially giving me a back door to immigration security.
I took the job at TikTok, and it’s been an incredible ride ever since. I’ve had the opportunity to work on some of the most exciting projects in tech, leveraging global systems and working across multiple cultures. But what many people don’t see is the underlying risk I took to get here.
Lesson: Risk management is essential. Every major decision should come with a well-thought-out contingency plan. Don’t just accept new opportunities blindly; assess the risks and come up with strategies to mitigate them.
🧭 Chapter 5: What They Don’t Tell You
The hardest part of being an immigrant engineer in the U.S. isn’t what you see on paper. It’s not about landing the right job or impressing interviewers. The hidden cost is the stress of immigration uncertainty.
The stress of knowing that each job change requires recalculating visa risks. The pressure of wondering whether a new, better opportunity will trigger a visa denial or create problems down the line. The anxiety that comes with the unpredictable nature of the green card process and the inability to plan your future like a U.S. citizen.
In addition to the technical challenges, this immigration stress is a constant part of the immigrant experience. It’s the stress of explaining to your family why you can’t attend a wedding because of travel restrictions. It’s the feeling that every decision in your career — from changing companies to moving cities — needs to be approved by USCIS.
Lesson: There’s a hidden emotional and mental cost to navigating these challenges. Understanding this is important for any international engineer trying to make it in the U.S.
🤝 Why I Mentor
When I reflect on my journey, I realize that I didn’t have a roadmap — I figured things out through trial and error, and by spending countless late-night hours researching and strategizing. And while it worked out for me, I wish I had someone to guide me along the way.
That’s why I now mentor others — so that they don’t have to navigate these hurdles alone.
I work with:
- Mid-career engineers feeling stuck or under-leveled
- International professionals juggling H1B, H4, OPT, EB2/EB1A
- FAANG+ candidates preparing for coding, system design, and behavioral interviews
- Professionals seeking to align career strategy with immigration and financial planning
If you’re facing a decision with no obvious answer, I’ve probably been there. I’d be happy to help you think through your options and come up with a plan that works for both your career and your reality.
Let’s build a roadmap that makes room for your ambition and your reality.