# Indian man rejected thrice for H-1B, wins O-1 visa

2026-08-13T18:55:16+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Sohan Sethi, 29, an Indian-origin business analyst in Chicago, has secured an O-1 visa after being rejected three times in the H-1B lottery. Born and raised in Mumbai, Sethi spent $13,000 on lawyers and compiled over 700 pages of evidence to prove his “extraordinary ability” in data analytics. His STEM OPT was due to expire in July 2026, leaving him just 100 days to find a legal pathway. The O-1 visa, unlike the H-1B, has no lottery or annual cap. Sethi arrived in the US in 2022 for a master’s at the University of Illinois Chicago. He entered the H-1B lottery in 2023, 2024, and 2025, losing each time. After the second rejection, he began preparing for the O-1 visa: winning awards, publishing articles, and judging industry events. In March 2026, he was rejected a third time. He filed his O-1 petition in April 2026, faced a Request for Evidence, and eventually received approval. Times of India reports that he shared his journey on LinkedIn to guide others.

## Coverage

- ndtv.com <https://www.ndtv.com/feature/3-h-1b-rejections-didnt-stop-him-how-an-indian-professional-secured-o-1-visa-to-stay-in-us-11906901>
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/indian-origin-man-rejected-for-h-1b-visa-three-times-compiled-700-pages-of-evidence-and-spent-13000-to-secure-another-way-to-stay-in-us/articleshow/133232380.cms>

Tags: extraordinary ability, H-1B lottery, Indian professionals, O-1 visa, US immigration
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