H1B Uncertainty and the Strength of Resilience and Compassion

In the past 24 hours, many H1B holders, applicants, and immigration attorneys have been living through one of the most chaotic moments in recent memory. Conflicting information about new travel regulations spread quickly, with different updates surfacing every few hours.

For individuals and families whose futures depend on visa stability, this constant stream of contradictory news created waves of panic and confusion. People were left wondering if they could still travel, work, or even remain in the United States.

What happened yesterday is not a one-time crisis. It represents a broader reality that many immigrants live with every single day—the ongoing uncertainty of whether they will be able to stay, continue their careers, or make long-term plans for their families.

This instability is not just an inconvenience; it takes a profound toll. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and exhaustion, and it can affect physical health, family relationships, and workplace performance. The pressure of living in limbo weighs on the whole person, in every domain of life.

Even more painful is the tendency to internalize this suffering.

Many people blame themselves:

“I must be too sensitive. I should know how to handle this. I’m weak. It’s my fault.” 

But this could not be further from the truth. These reactions are not personal failings. They are the natural, human response to chronic instability and fear about the future.

H1B Uncertainty: Resilience Through Survival

When we hear the word resilience, we often imagine someone quickly bouncing back or thriving after hardship. But resilience does not always look like growth or thriving. Sometimes resilience is quieter, almost invisible.

For H1B holders facing enormous stress, resilience can mean waking up and showing up at work despite sleepless nights. It can mean caring for family members while carrying a heavy heart. It can even mean simply remaining—choosing to endure one more day of H1B uncertainty.

There is strength in survival. There is dignity in still being here. To keep going in the face of instability is itself a powerful act of resilience. It is important to recognize this truth and to honor it, rather than dismissing survival as “not enough.”

Choosing Compassion and Self-Compassion

Amid so much fear and unpredictability, compassion becomes a lifeline—both compassion from others and compassion for oneself.

Self-compassion is not about ignoring pain or pretending to be positive. It is about acknowledging suffering as real and offering yourself the same kindness you would extend to a loved one.

Instead of telling yourself, “I shouldn’t be struggling,” you can gently remind yourself: “I am enduring extraordinary stress, and I am still moving forward.”

Recognizing your own limits and offering yourself care is not weakness; it is survival.

Small acts of kindness toward yourself—a mindful pause, a meal taken without rushing, a walk to clear your head—are forms of resilience. They remind you that even in the midst of hardship, you are worthy of care.

Doing What You Can, Letting Go of What You Cannot

When life is suddenly shaken, it is natural to panic.

If you were told today that your life could change completely within 24 hours, of course fear and confusion would rise up. No one can predict how the current situation will evolve, whether in the coming weeks, months, or years.

In such moments, it helps to focus on what is within reach: consulting trusted legal experts, preparing necessary documents, and following the steps that are possible.

Beyond those actions, there comes the difficult but necessary work of letting go. Letting go of what cannot be controlled—where to be, how to be, when to be—is not an act of weakness or surrender.

It is an act of courage.

It is a recognition that no one can carry the weight of the unknown on their shoulders alone.

And when you let go, it is essential to return again to self-compassion.

To remind yourself: I am human. My fear is valid. My survival is strength. 

Treat yourself with the same tenderness you would offer someone you love. In times when the future feels fragile, self-compassion becomes the anchor that steadies you.

Surviving here, still being here, is already resilience.

Even in the storm of uncertainty, simply continuing forward is an act of resilience and self-compassion.