An Indian man who was rejected from the H-1B visa lottery 3 times has shared how he managed to proceed dwelling and dealing within the US by an O-1 visa.
In an as-told-to essay published in Enterprise Insider, Sohan Sethi, a 29-year-old knowledge analytics and AI skilled at a healthcare firm, shared his immigration journey. After three unsuccessful H-1B lottery makes an attempt, Sethi turned to the O-1 visa, which isn’t lottery-based and requires candidates to reveal extraordinary skill of their subject.
From Mumbai to Chicago
Sethi, who was born and raised in Mumbai, shared that he spent the primary 25 years of his life in India earlier than shifting to Chicago for his grasp’s diploma. He had accomplished a bachelor’s diploma in laptop engineering from the College of Mumbai and labored as a enterprise analyst for a few 12 months and a half whereas saving cash and making ready for graduate faculty.
“It took virtually three years for me to get to the US. Whereas working full-time, I ready for my GRE, gathered suggestion letters, and utilized to a number of universities,” Sethi shared.
The 29-year-old stated that he finally secured admission to the College of Illinois Chicago and arrived within the US in January 2022. “Twenty days later, on my twenty fifth birthday, I stood in the very same spot that had been my wallpaper,” he recalled, referring to a Chicago skyline picture that had impressed him whereas making ready to maneuver overseas.
(Additionally Learn: Google techie returns to US after letting go of H-1B visa, staying in India for 10 years)
Visa struggles
After graduating in Could 2023, Sethi stated that he started working as a senior enterprise analyst at a healthcare firm. A few 12 months and a half later, he was promoted to supervisor of analytics and reporting. “Professionally, issues had been shifting in the appropriate path,” he stated.
Nonetheless, his immigration standing remained unsure. Sethi stated that he entered the H-1B lottery 3 times however was not chosen. Following his second rejection in April 2025, he started making ready for an O-1 visa.
“I began making ready for the O-1 visa in June 2025, virtually a 12 months earlier than my OPT was because of expire,” he instructed the outlet.
Over the next months, he shared that he labored with a lawyer to construct his profile and compile proof of his skilled achievements. He stated that this included media protection, judging business occasions, awards, scholarly publications and suggestion letters.
“By February 2026, my legal professionals and I had organized greater than 700 pages of supporting proof. I spent about $13,000 on lawyer charges,” he stated.
Sethi revealed that his third H-1B rejection got here in March 2026, leaving him with round 100 days earlier than his STEM OPT was because of expire on July 5. He subsequently filed his O-1 petition in April.
(Additionally Learn: H-1B visa stress pushes techie to return to India after 8 years in the US: ‘I don’t have much savings’)
The method was not easy. Sethi shared that he obtained a Request for Proof after submitting, requiring him to offer extra documentation. He stated he spent weeks anxiously ready for updates from his lawyer.
“Throughout that point, I began fascinated by different potentialities. I do know individuals who have gone again to their dwelling international locations, pursued a second grasp’s diploma, or moved to locations like Canada or the UK. I thought-about these choices too, however I could not discover one other nation the place I felt I might construct the identical profession,” he stated.
Then got here the information he had been ready for.
“I used to be sitting on the desk in my Chicago condo, anxiously refreshing my e mail,” Sethi recalled. When an e mail from his lawyer arrived with the phrase “Congratulations”, he stated the anxiousness instantly disappeared.
“After being rejected 3 times within the H-1B lottery, my O-1 visa had lastly been authorised,” he stated.
Sethi stated the primary individuals he known as had been his mom and brother in India. He described seeing their smiles throughout the video name as a second that made the trouble worthwhile.
Immediately, Sethi manages a staff of analysts working in healthcare knowledge and analytics. He has additionally been sharing his experiences on LinkedIn, providing recommendation on job searches, life as a world pupil and navigating the O-1 course of.
“The one intent behind that was to be there for somebody in the best way I want somebody had been there for me,” he wrote.
“For now, my focus is on taking advantage of the following three years in america,” he stated.
