• Source:JND
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A 26-year-old Bengaluru-based software engineer, now employed with IBM in California, has made his visa woes a success story. Having been rejected three times in the H-1B lottery, Tanush Sharanarthi managed to get the O-1 visa, which is a category for applicants with "extraordinary ability" in their profession.

In a detailed post on LinkedIn, Sharanarthi shared his journey and highlighted how consistent efforts, late nights of research, and product building ultimately paved the way for his visa approval. “Instead of waiting on luck, I went all in on what I could control: late nights, building products, publishing research, and contributing to the field I love. Turns out, consistency pays better than the lottery,” he wrote. His success inspired professionals on social media sites. People congratulated him and asked for tips on his visa process.

What Is the O-1 Visa?

The O-1 visa is an American non-immigrant visa meant for those who have achieved exceptional accomplishment in their field. In contrast to the H-1B, the O-1 is not capped or subject to an annual lottery.

Key details about the O-1 visa:

• Granted to individuals of outstanding ability in sciences, arts, education, business, sports, or accomplishments in the entertainment industry.
• No annual cap, in contrast to the H-1B visa.
• Applicants need to qualify on at least three of these conditions:
1. National or international awards and honors.
2. Peer review publication of research or scholarly articles.
3. Member of a leading professional association.
4. Innovative contributions and originality in the field.

Other Visa Options For Indian Professionals

With Indian professionals forming nearly 70 per cent of H-1B holders, the new fee structure has prompted many to seek alternative pathways.

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Some alternatives are:

• L-1 Visa: For intra-company transfers. Employees serving for a minimum period of one year in a multinational company's foreign office can be transferred to its US office.
• F-1 OPT / STEM OPT: US students can stay extended by working after studies in related jobs, with an added 24-month extension for students graduating in STEM fields.
• EB-5 Visa: A direct route to US green card via investment. Involves a minimum investment of USD 800,000 in employment-generating ventures.
• O-1 Visa: For persons of extraordinary accomplishment, particularly in science, technology, or the arts. Involves intensive documentation but no lottery.

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For Tanush Sharanarthi, the O-1 visa marks both a personal triumph and a message of hope for thousands of young Indian professionals: hard work and persistence can sometimes outweigh sheer luck.