Ex-Tesla engineer becomes U.S. citizen via EB-1A Green Card after challenging journey

Saiman Shetty, a former engineer at Tesla, Nuro, and Lyft, has achieved U.S. citizenship after a 13-year journey, bypassing the H-1B lottery by successfully applying for the EB-1A Green Card, often called the "Einstein visa." Shetty, who now runs Smart Immigration AI, a platform assisting high-skilled immigrants, shared his story ahead of Indian Independence Day.

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America did not roll out a red carpet. She beat me up. She tested me at every single turn. The debt I didn’t know how I’d repay. The jobs that said no. The H1B lottery I lost. The backlogs. Walking away from a comfortable Silicon Valley paycheck to go build something of my own. Every step, I had to prove myself. Again. And again.

His path to citizenship was fraught with challenges. Shetty described himself as a broke international student with no backup plan, facing debt, job rejections, and the uncertainty of the H-1B lottery. He recounted walking away from a lucrative Silicon Valley job to build his own company, constantly having to prove himself. "America did not roll out a red carpet. She beat me up. She tested me at every single turn," he wrote on Instagram.

Adding to his struggles, Shetty revealed he was investigated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after trolls reported him, falsely accusing him of fraud related to his immigration platform. He stated that the USCIS "almost took the bait" but ultimately adjudicated that he had done nothing illegal. This investigation was a dramatic prelude to his announcement that he had become a U.S. citizen.

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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. And for a moment, the most powerful immigration system on earth almost took the bait.

Shetty emphasized the EB-1A visa's significance, noting that it offers a path to permanent residency for individuals with extraordinary abilities without requiring an employer sponsor. "That one decision gave me freedom, stability, and a mission. I realized: no one should have to go through this alone," he said, highlighting his motivation to help others navigate the complex U.S. immigration system.

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That one decision gave me freedom, stability, and a mission. I realized: no one should have to go through this alone.