Einstein visa: programmer secures alternative to expensive H-1B

26-year-old Tanush Sharanarathi has been working as an engineer at IBM for three years. Throughout this time, he tried to obtain a work visa, but each attempt was unsuccessful. Despite having a master’s degree, his chances remained minimal. According to the engineer, participating in the selection process felt like gambling: «Every year I waited for the result as if I was spinning a slot machine in Las Vegas.»

After his first failure, he began exploring the possibility of obtaining an O-1 visa—designed for specialists with «extraordinary abilities.» To qualify, applicants need to meet just three out of eight criteria. Sharanarathi’s publications on artificial intelligence, judging at hackathons, and participation in peer-reviewing scientific papers proved sufficient.

Before moving to America, he worked at Kimberly-Clark in India. He later enrolled in a master’s program at Johns Hopkins University, specializing in information systems and artificial intelligence, and came to the US on an F-1 student visa. After his studies, he worked at IBM for three years under the OPT program, during which he made three attempts to secure a work visa.

He submitted his O-1 application in August with premium processing. He checked the status daily, and on the 12th business day, he saw the coveted «Approved» status. «It was like a slot machine in Vegas, but this time I won,» the engineer recalls.

Sharanarathi emphasizes that he achieved success not for the sake of a visa, but because of his passion for his field. For six years, he focused on research publications, open-source projects, and expert activities. According to him, the key is to concentrate on professional growth and industry contributions: «If you’re passionate about your work, the O-1 criteria will fall into place on their own.»