Indian-origin man rejected for H-1B 3 times finds another way to stay in US
Sohan Sethi faced multiple H-1B visa rejections after arriving in the United States. He then pursued an O-1 visa, requiring extensive documentation and lawyer fees. Sethi demonstrated extraordinary ability through achievements and industry recognition to secure his stay. This path highlights the challenges faced by skilled professionals seeking to remain in America. He now manages a team, sharing…
In the wake of the second Trump administration's tightening of visa guidelines, Sohan Sethi, a 29-year-old Indian-born individual, was rejected three times in a row for an H-1B visa. Born and raised in Mumbai, Sethi spent 25 years of his life in India before moving to the US for his master's degree. After completing his bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the University of Mumbai, he worked as a business analyst to save money for graduate school.
Eventually, he was accepted into the University of Illinois Chicago's business analytics program in January 2022.
As an international student, Sethi's tuition fees amounted to around $60,000 across three semesters, with his research assistantship covering a significant portion of the costs. Upon graduating in May 2023, he commenced working as a senior business analyst at a healthcare company, eventually being promoted to manager of analytics and reporting. However, the H-1B visa rejection forced him to seek alternative options.
The O-1 visa, unlike the H-1B, is not based on a lottery but requires applicants to demonstrate extraordinary ability through achievements in their field. To achieve this, Sethi spent more than 700 hours building a profile, securing media coverage, judging industry events, receiving awards, publishing scholarly articles, and gathering recommendation letters.
Despite spending $13,000 on lawyer fees, his efforts paid off when he was approved for the O-1 visa in March 2026, just a few days before his STEM OPT was due to expire. Sethi now manages a team of analysts working in healthcare data and analytics, all while sharing his journey to inspire others who find themselves in similar situations.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
