What Sohan Sethi Did After 3 H-1B Visa Lottery Rejections To Continue Working in US
After three failed H-1B lottery attempts, Indian data analytics professional Sohan Sethi turned to the O-1 visa route, requiring proof of extraordinary ability. With his OPT nearing expiry, he compiled over 700 pages of evidence and spent USD 13,000 in legal fees to continue his career and stay legally employed in the United States.
An Indian professional who was rejected from the H-1B visa lottery three times has found another way to continue building his career in the United States. Sohan Sethi, a 29 year old data analytics and AI professional working at a healthcare company, shared his immigration journey in an as-told-to essay published by Business Insider, revealing how he turned to the O-1 visa, a non-lottery-based route that requires applicants to demonstrate extraordinary ability in their field, after repeated H-1B setbacks.
From Mumbai To Chicago
Sethi spent the first 25 years of his life in India. After completing a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the University of Mumbai, he worked as a business analyst for about 18 months, saving money and preparing to study abroad. H1B Visa: US May End 60-Day Grace Period After Job Loss, Indian Workers Could Be Hit Hard.
He wrote that studying abroad had always been a dream, though funding constraints had made it impossible at the undergraduate level. Instead, he pursued his engineering degree in Mumbai and spent close to three years working, preparing for the GRE, gathering recommendation letters and applying to universities before finally making the move overseas.
The University of Illinois Chicago was his dream school, drawing him in through its business analytics programme and strong alumni network. In January 2022, he arrived in Chicago to begin his master's degree, an emotional milestone he described vividly, recalling how a laptop wallpaper image of a Chicago skyline bridge had motivated him during difficult moments, only for him to later stand in that exact spot on his 25th birthday, just 20 days after his arrival. How Will Donald Trump’s Proposed H-1B and L-1 Visa Fee Hike Affect Indian Professionals?
Building A Career Amid Visa Uncertainty
As an international student, Sethi's tuition costs came to about USD 60,000 for three semesters, a portion of which was offset by a research assistantship during his second and third semesters. After graduating in May 2023, he joined a healthcare company as a senior business analyst, and was promoted to manager of analytics and reporting roughly 18 months later.
Despite his career progressing steadily, his immigration status remained unresolved. Sethi entered the H-1B lottery three times without success. Following his second rejection in April 2025, he decided he could no longer rely solely on the lottery system and began preparing for the O-1 visa in June 2025, nearly a year before his Optional Practical Training (OPT) was set to expire.
The Push For An O-1 Visa
Unlike the H-1B, the O-1 visa is not subject to a lottery, but requires applicants to prove significant achievements and recognition within their field. Sethi hired an immigration lawyer and spent months building his case while continuing to work full time, documenting his professional accomplishments, securing media coverage, judging industry events, receiving awards, publishing scholarly work and gathering recommendation letters. By February 2026, he and his legal team had compiled more than 700 pages of supporting evidence, at a legal cost of around USD 13,000.
In March, Sethi was rejected from the H-1B lottery for the third time. With his STEM OPT due to expire on July 5, he had roughly 100 days left to secure another legal pathway to remain in the country. He filed his O-1 petition in April, though the process was further complicated by a Request for Evidence, requiring additional documentation before a final decision could be made.
Choosing To Stay In The US
During the tense waiting period, Sethi considered alternatives, including returning to India, pursuing another master's degree, or relocating to countries like Canada or the UK. He ultimately decided to continue building his career in the US, citing the opportunities and infrastructure available in his field of data analytics and AI as difficult to match elsewhere.
Today, Sethi manages a team of analysts working in healthcare data and analytics, and has been sharing his immigration journey on LinkedIn, offering advice on job hunting, international student life and navigating the O-1 visa process.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2026 09:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
