By News18

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When hard work and perseverance come together, any person can achieve remarkable standards. This statement was well proved by a software engineer, who acquired the O-1 ‘Einstein’ visa in the field of Artificial Intelligence. This O-1A nonimmigrant visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability in the fields of science, education, business or athletics.
Tanush Sharanarthi, a software engineer at IBM and MSIS-AI student at Johns Hopkins University, documented his entire journey in a post on LinkedIn. He wrote, “From three years of striking out in the H-1B lottery… to finally being approved for the O-1 ‘Einstein’ visa in the field of Artificial Intelligence.” To procure this visa, a person must meet high standards to qualify, which are equivalent to winning a major, internationally recognised award.

The Software Engineer’s Journey Wasn’t Dependent on Luck
Sharanarthi worked immensely hard consistently for a couple of years. Despite multiple failed attempts, he didn’t let his determination go down. He continued, “For three years straight, I played the H-1B game of chance. Three tickets, three misses. At this point, I was starting to feel like the unluckiest person in Vegas. But 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.”
Finally, this week brought a moment of joy, as he was approved for the O-1 visa. He shared, “A special category reserved for individuals at the top of their field. An alien of extraordinary ability. (So no pressure, right?) To me, it’s more than a visa. It’s proof that hard work stacks up, that setbacks can become fuel, and that perseverance beats probability.”
The Software Engineer Expresses Gratitude
However, he didn’t miss the chance to express his gratitude to his family, mentors, colleagues and friends who cheered him on “when the odds looked impossible in achieving this”. He penned, “A special thanks to IBM for sponsoring and supporting me on this journey.”
In the concluding part, he extended his key to his path of success. “And to anyone navigating their own tough path: keep going. Luck runs out, but effort compounds. If you’re curious about the O-1 process or my journey, drop a question in the comments. Happy to share what I’ve learned,” he concluded.
Social Media’s Reaction To The Software Engineer’s Journey
The post has so far received over 1,400 reactions, with many professionals and peers congratulating him on his journey. Many others even inquired about the entire application process and other details.
One comment read, “Congrats, Tanush. Your journey from H‑1B struggles to O‑1 success is truly inspiring. I would love to hear any advice you have for others on the same path!” another said, “Congratulations!! Would love to know about your process and all the achievements/publications you have done. Getting an O-1 VISA is not an easy task.” A person even called him “Inspiration.”
Sharanarthi’s post came at a time when a comparison of the O-1A visa and the EB-1A visa, the corresponding immigrant visa for individuals of extraordinary ability, is one of the major topics being discussed around the world.
What Is The O-1 ‘Einstein’ Visa?
This O-1 ‘Einstein’ visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in the fields of science, education, business or athletics. These are also given to those who have a demonstrated record of remarkable achievement in the motion picture or television industry or have been recognised nationally or internationally for those achievements.
To procure this visa, a person must meet high standards to qualify, which are equivalent to winning a major, internationally recognised award. According to a report by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, these are the following O nonimmigrant classifications –
O-1A: For individuals coming from a science, education, business, or athletics background.
O-1B: Individuals who have proved extraordinary ability in the arts field or achievement in the motion picture or television industry.
O-2: Individuals who will accompany an O-1 artist or athlete to assist in a specific event or performance.
O-3: Individuals who are the spouses or children of O-1 and O-2 visa holders.