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Peruvian Tennis Star Loses US Dream After Visa Issues
7 Sep
Summary
- Moved to US at 17 on tennis scholarship, earned MBA.
- Lost H-1B job in late 2025, faced tight deadline.
- Returned to Peru, now building a cashew butter business.
Luciana Pereyra, a 25-year-old from Peru, moved to the US at age 17 on a tennis scholarship, pursuing higher education and earning both a bachelor's and an MBA. She secured a marketing role at Ohio State's College of Nursing, obtaining H-1B sponsorship. However, her position was eliminated in December 2025 due to restructuring, giving her a mere 60 days to find a new sponsor or depart the country.
The timing of her job loss proved challenging, coinciding with university winter breaks and the complex H-1B visa application process. Despite her best efforts and interviews, job opportunities fell through due to sponsorship requirements and delays. Facing an insurmountable deadline, Pereyra returned to Peru in March 2026.
Back in Peru, Pereyra is launching Casuma, a business selling flavored cashew butters, blending American traditions with Peruvian ingredients like lucuma and cacao. She also works freelance and coaches tennis. Reflecting on her US experience, she advises treating it as a temporary chapter, not a permanent future, emphasizing the need for a clear path to residency for any future international moves.
