After facing three consecutive H-1B lottery rejections, Indian techie Sohan Sethi secured an O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary ability by February 2026. With roughly 100 days left on his student visa, Sethi and his legal team compiled over 700 pages of supporting evidence, spending around ₹12 lakh in legal fees to achieve the visa approval, according to livemint.com.
Sethi’s journey involved a rigorous and costly preparation process. Recognizing the uncertainty of relying on the H-1B lottery system, he opted for the O-1 visa route, which requires demonstrating exceptional skills and achievements. The extensive portfolio included detailed documentation of his work in healthcare AI and data analytics, which helped establish his extraordinary ability to U.S. immigration authorities, as reported by livemint.com.
The O-1 visa offers an alternative pathway for highly skilled professionals who face challenges with the H-1B lottery system. Sethi’s case highlights the difficulties Indian tech workers encounter amid the competitive U.S. visa environment. The O-1 visa, unlike the lottery-based H-1B, is merit-based and can provide longer-term work authorization for individuals with significant accomplishments, making it a crucial option in the tech sector.
Sethi’s visa approval came after months of preparation and legal expenses totaling approximately ₹12 lakh. His case underscores the growing importance of the O-1 visa for Indian professionals in the U.S. tech industry, especially as H-1B rejections continue to rise. The detailed portfolio submitted by February 2026 was key to securing the visa, according to livemint.com.