2 weeks ago

Karnataka-Born Tech Founder Becomes US Citizen After Visa Struggles

Karnataka-Born Tech Founder Becomes US Citizen After Visa Struggles
How Karnataka-born tech founder overcame years of visa struggle, became US citizen · indianexpress.com

A man named Saiman Shetty came from a small village in India to live in America.

He arrived as a student with very little money and no friends to help him.

Life in his new country was hard, and he faced debt and many job rejections.

He also struggled with visa problems and very long waiting times.

He even lost the H-1B visa lottery, which is like a lucky draw for work permits.

Some people he once knew told the American government he was a fraud, which could have caused him serious trouble.

But when the officials checked, the accusations turned out to be untrue.

In the end, America's immigration system gave him a fair result, and he became an American citizen.

He says America did not welcome him with a red carpet, but he kept working hard.

He now encourages other immigrants to stay patient and follow the law while he keeps helping them.

Key facts

Name
Saiman Shetty
Birthplace
Small village in Karnataka, India
Citizenship
United States citizen
Education
Engineering degree at Visvesvaraya Technological University; master's at Arizona State University
Career
Intern at BSNL; worked at Tesla and Lyft; launched his own company in 2023
Visa History
Lost H-1B visa lottery; faced lengthy backlogs; supports F-1, H-1B, O-1 and L-1 visa holders and green card applicants
Allegations
False fraud claims submitted to USCIS by a group of individuals
Community Impact
More than 300 immigrants assisted by Shetty expected to reach similar milestones

Quotes

Saiman Shetty

Indian-born tech entrepreneur and U.S. citizen

“"A few jealous pricks decided I was a 'fraud' and built a neat little trap for me. Handed it to USCIS with a bow on top."”
NDTV
“"America did not roll out a red carpet. She beat me up. She tested me at every single turn."”
NDTV

Sources

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