Snapdeal Founder Kunal Bahl Shares His H-1B Rejection Story To Inspire Amid Fee Hike Woes

Amid the turbulence caused by the recent hike in H-1B visa fees, Snapdeal co-founder Kunal Bahl shared his own story of rejection to inspire those impacted.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Bahl recalled how, in 2007, while working at Microsoft, he received an email that his H-1B visa application had been denied. The experience, he said, was “crushing and numbing” at the time but eventually became a turning point in his life.

“Life-changing eventually when I moved back to India,” Bahl wrote, adding that the setback ultimately opened the path for him to build Snapdeal, one of India’s leading e-commerce platforms.

In 2007, sitting at my desk in Microsoft I got an email that my H1B visa was rejected. It was crushing and numbing at that moment, but

life-changing eventually when I moved back to 🇮🇳. To those impacted today, be positive. There is something much bigger & better in store for you.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) September 20, 2025

US President Donald Trump on Friday announced a sweeping change to the H-1B visa programme, arguing that it has been abused for years by outsourcing companies to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labour. Under a proclamation that takes effect on 21 September 2025, employers will now need to pay a $100,000 fee for every H-1B worker entering the US.

The order has triggered alarm among H-1B holders, particularly those already in the US who may need to travel abroad.

The proclamation restricts the entry of new H-1B non-immigrant workers unless their sponsoring employer pays a $100,000 petition fee. It takes effect at 12:01 am EDT on 21 September 2025 (9:31 am IST) and will remain in force for 12 months, until September 2026, unless extended.

Radhika Gupta, MD and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, recently shared her reflections on the changing landscape of opportunities for Indian students in the United States. In a heartfelt tweet, Gupta recalled graduating in 2005, when H-1B visa norms were far more favorable for international students.

Gupta empathized with students currently on American campuses who may feel “shaken or disheartened” by the challenges abroad. However, she encouraged them to see opportunities back home, noting that India of 2025 offers far more potential than it did two decades ago.

“Chin up. Aao, ab laut chalen!” Gupta urged, signaling a call for students to consider returning to India and exploring its evolving professional landscape.