How a Bengaluru Techie Turned H-1B Rejection into Visa Success

A Bengaluru-based tech professional, after facing three rejections for the highly sought-after H-1B visa, has successfully secured a US O-1 visa, a category reserved for individuals of “extraordinary ability.” The case of Tanush Sharanarthi, a 26-year-old working at IBM in California, has become a powerful example of how dedication and consistent professional contribution can open doors that the traditional visa lottery system has closed.

The H-1B visa, the primary pathway for many Indian tech professionals to work in the US, is notoriously oversubscribed. Its selection process is based on an annual lottery, making the visa a game of chance. For many, including Sharanarthi, this lottery became a frustrating hurdle, leading to three consecutive rejections. “For three years straight, I played the H-1B game of chance. Three tickets, three misses. At this point, I was starting to feel like the unluckiest person in Vegas,” he wrote in a viral LinkedIn post.

Instead of being deterred, Sharanarthi decided to focus on what he could control: his professional growth and contributions to the field of artificial intelligence. His strategy was a deliberate and focused effort on building a profile that went beyond the basic requirements of a job. He dedicated himself to late nights of work, building products, publishing research papers, and actively contributing to open-source projects. He also took on roles as a hackathon judge and a reviewer for conference journals, all of which bolstered his professional standing.

This proactive approach was key to his O-1 visa application. Unlike the H-1B, which is based on a specific job offer in a “specialty occupation,” the O-1 visa is granted to individuals who can demonstrate sustained national or international acclaim in their field. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a list of criteria for this visa, and applicants must satisfy at least three. Sharanarthi’s extensive body of work, accumulated over six years, allowed him to meet several of these criteria, demonstrating his “extraordinary ability.”

The O-1 visa, often dubbed the “Einstein visa,” is a testament to an individual’s unique skills and achievements, offering a route to the US for top-tier professionals regardless of the H-1B lottery’s outcome. It has no annual cap and can be renewed indefinitely, offering a more stable and flexible alternative for those at the pinnacle of their careers.

Sharanarthi’s journey from a series of setbacks to a significant professional milestone highlights a shift in strategy for skilled immigrants. His story serves as a valuable lesson for those navigating the complexities of US immigration. It underscores that while luck plays a role in the H-1B system, a portfolio of exceptional, documented achievements can create an alternative and often more reliable pathway to professional success in the United States. His success is not just a personal victory but a beacon of hope for countless other professionals who face similar visa challenges, proving that “consistency pays better than the lottery.”