How Karnataka-born founder overcame years of visa struggle, became US citizen: ‘Justice is what showed up’

Karnataka native Saiman Shetty has successfully obtained American citizenship after enduring years of visa-related difficulties, career setbacks, and a false immigration complaint against him. In a post on Instagram, Shetty reflected on his journey from a small village in Karnataka to US citizenship, recalling his arrival in the US as an international student with no financial support, social connections, or contingency plans.

Shetty moved to the US to pursue higher education, earning his engineering degree from Visvesvaraya Technological University and a master's degree from Arizona State University. He then began his career as an intern at BSNL before landing positions at companies such as Tesla and Lyft. Eventually, he launched his own tech startup in 2023.

In his Instagram post, Shetty shared that his early years in America were marked by financial struggles, frequent job rejections, and missed opportunities due to rejection from the H-1B visa lottery. He also recounted walking away from a well-paying job to establish his own business, which came with its own set of challenges. Shetty revealed that malicious individuals from his past falsely reported him to US immigration authorities, alleging fraud without any substantial evidence.

In response, he commended the US justice system for ultimately vindicating him, stating, "Justice is what showed up."

Shetty used his platform to encourage others facing similar challenges, such as students on F-1 visas, H-1B, O-1, or L-1 visa holders, as well as those still awaiting their green cards. He offered straightforward advice: remain patient, adhere to the rules, and persist in your efforts. The citizenship milestone was celebrated by many supportive comments, with inquiries about the duration of the citizenship process.

The publication covering Shetty's story has reached out to him for comment, and they will update the article if he responds.