Bengaluru techie secures the rare ‘Einstein visa’ after three failed H-1B attempts: What is O-1 visa and who are eligible

For three consecutive years, 26-year-old Tanush Sharanarthi tried to secure an H-1B visa to continue working in the United States. Despite holding a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, his applications were repeatedly rejected under the lottery system. “The H-1B lottery felt like playing the slots in Las Vegas — you win sometimes, but mostly you lose and have no control,” Sharanarthi, who hails from Bangalore, told Business Insider.Frustrated by the uncertainty, he began exploring alternatives. That’s when he learned about the O-1 visa, a category reserved for individuals with “extraordinary ability” in fields such as science, technology, education, or the arts.According to a report by Business Insider, Tanush Sharanarthi had been building a strong portfolio without realizing it. He had published research on artificial intelligence (AI), reviewed papers for journals, judged hackathons, and contributed to open-source projects. These achievements, the report says, helped him meet the O-1 requirements, which demand evidence across at least three out of eight eligibility categories.After six years of work in AI — starting with Kimberly-Clark, followed by his graduate studies and his current role at IBM — Tanush Sharanarthi finally applied for the O-1 visa in August. Less than two weeks later, his application was approved, BI reports.“It took a lot of hard work, but it felt nice. Only this time in Vegas, I won,” he told the publication.Often referred to as the “Einstein visa,” the O-1 is granted to professionals who can demonstrate sustained achievement and recognition in their fields. Unlike the H-1B, which is capped at 85,000 approvals each year and relies on a lottery system, the O-1 does not have a numerical cap.Immigration lawyers say the visa is gaining attention as workers face increasing uncertainty under the H-1B program. Last week, Donald Trump introduced a $100,000 annual fee on H-1B applications starting September 21. The administration is now reportedly weighing fresh restrictions on H-1B approvals, likely replacing the lottery system.