I was rejected from the H-1B lottery 3 times. I spent $13,000 to secure another way to stay in the US.
After three H-1B lottery rejections, Sohan Sethi secured an O-1 visa, allowing him to continue his data analytics career and stay in Chicago.
Sohan Sethi, a 29-year-old Indian national, faced three rejections in the H-1B visa lottery before obtaining an O-1 visa in June 2026. Born and raised in Mumbai, Sethi had never visited the US before enrolling at the University of Illinois Chicago. After three H-1B rejections, his O-1 visa was finally approved, allowing him to work in data analytics and AI at a healthcare company.
He spent $13,000 in lawyer fees to secure his O-1 visa, as the H-1B lottery is based on chance, while the O-1 requires applicants to demonstrate extraordinary ability in their field. Despite considering other countries, Sethi found the US to be unparalleled in opportunities, infrastructure, and exposure for his career.
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