Fired at 7 a.m., Indian Entrepreneur Builds Dreamlaunch to 50K

(UNITED STATES) An Indian entrepreneur’s fast rebound after a sudden job loss is drawing fresh attention to how U.S. immigration rules shape risk-taking. On March 13, 2025, during a 7 a.m. stand-up meeting, Indian professional Harshil Tomar was told he was being let go by his U.S. employer. The company said he was devoting too much energy to his side project, Dreamlaunch. At the time, the startup brought in just $1,000 a month.

Within six months, Dreamlaunch recorded $50,000 in revenue, hit $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR), started hiring, and signed major brands, according to his public account. His story has since spread widely online, resonating with countless foreign workers who weigh safety against ambition in the United States.

High stakes after a layoff

Tomar’s pivot from job loss to startup success carried high stakes. For many foreign workers, a layoff can trigger a tight countdown under U.S. visa rules. Workers on temporary visas, such as H‑1B, typically face strict deadlines to secure new sponsorship or leave the country.

Tomar considered seeking another full-time role to protect his status and income. Instead, he chose to go all in on his company. He later said: “Every day I spent looking for safety would push me away from taking risks.” His co-founder paused his own pay to give the company more time to grow. Tomar described keeping the job loss secret from his parents and said the experience made him “thick-skinned.”

Visa pressure after a layoff

Tomar’s case highlights a common stress point for skilled workers in the United States. When a layoff happens, immigration status may be at risk. According to U.S. policy, some nonimmigrant workers may have a limited grace period to take action—switch employers, change status, or depart.

For official guidance, see the USCIS page on Options for Nonimmigrant Workers Following Termination of Employment: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/information-for-employers-and-employees/options-for-nonimmigrant-workers-following-termination-of-employment.

Common steps many in Tomar’s position consider include:

1. Porting to a new H‑1B employer with a timely filed Form I-129. See: https://www.uscis.gov/i-129.
2. Changing to a visitor or student category to buy time via Form I-539. See: https://www.uscis.gov/i-539.
3. If eligible through prior study, working under Optional Practical Training (OPT) with an Employment Authorization Document requested via Form I-765. See: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765.

These steps carry strict rules, deadlines, and documentation duties. Trade-offs include:

• Visitor status: usually no work authorization.
• New employer sponsorship: requires fast coordination and careful record-keeping.
• Even minor mistakes can cause problems for future filings.

Paths immigrant founders commonly use

There is no direct “startup visa” in the United States. That gap forces founders to piece together immigration status from programs meant for other purposes. Tomar noted three common approaches among immigrant founders:

• Staying on student or transitional status while building the company.
• Seeking investor support and a track record to pursue the EB‑2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)—filed with Form I-140. See: https://www.uscis.gov/i-140.
  • The NIW asks the government to waive the job offer and labor test if the entrepreneur’s work shows strong national benefit.
  • Evidence often includes revenue, customers, job creation, and expert letters.
• Registering a business abroad and working remotely, then seeking a longer-term U.S. plan later.

A fourth, sometimes-used route is the International Entrepreneur Parole program, which can allow a founder to live and work in the U.S. for a limited time if strict investment and public-benefit tests are met. It is temporary and not a visa.

Longer-term status (green card) typically still hinges on categories like EB‑2 NIW or employer sponsorship followed by adjustment via Form I-485. See: https://www.uscis.gov/i-485.

Practical documentation and compliance

Founders face real hurdles—fees, timelines, and detailed evidence standards. Practical items often required:

• Clean payroll records and adherence to tax rules.
• Bank statements, client contracts, and proof of product traction.
• Evidence of job creation, revenue, and customer relationships.

These business records become potential immigration exhibits as much as business milestones.

What Tomar’s rise means for other workers

Tomar’s numbers at the time of firing were modest—$1,000/month. Six months later, Dreamlaunch showed:

• $50,000 in total revenue
• $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR)
• A growing team and contracts with large brands

Those results offer two main messages for foreign workers facing sudden job loss.

• Personal risk is immediate and real. A layoff can quickly affect both income and immigration status. Many immigrants have less breathing room than U.S. citizens during a job search.
  • Visa timelines can limit the roles they can accept and reduce bargaining power.
  • Analysis by VisaVerge.com indicates even short gaps after a layoff can force rushed decisions with long-term consequences.
• Traction can change the immigration picture—though it’s not a guarantee.
  • Strong company data can help support EB‑2 NIW or other filings that weigh public benefit.
  • Supporting materials may include customer letters, proof of growth, and hiring plans.
  • These elements won’t shortcut the process, but they help build a persuasive case.

Tomar’s public account also highlights the role of community. His decision to take risks—combined with careful spending and a co-founder sacrificing pay—gave many readers courage to rethink their own options.

Practical steps for readers

For foreign workers, the key is to keep options open while staying compliant. Practical steps often include:

• Keep copies of pay stubs, job offers, and termination notices to support filings.
• If considering H‑1B portability, confirm new counsel will file Form I-129 quickly and retain proof of receipt.
• If switching to a stopgap status with Form I-539, plan for living expenses without unauthorized work.
• If planning self-employment under an allowable category, track invoices, contracts, and bank statements from day one.
• For any work authorization request (e.g., OPT using Form I-765), file clean, complete packets.

Important: Taxes get complex when founders mix W‑2 and self-employment income. If a layoff appears likely, consult a qualified immigration lawyer and a tax professional now rather than later.

Policy context and broader implications

U.S. leaders have discussed drawing more founders to the country, but Congress has not created a true startup visa. That leaves founders fitting plans into a patchwork of categories. Programs like EB‑2 NIW and International Entrepreneur Parole provide options, but both require evidence many early-stage startups lack.

As a result, many pursue bridge solutions: find a new employer first and build the company on nights and weekends until metrics justify a founder-focused filing.

Tomar’s six-month sprint demonstrates momentum can come quickly. Moving from $1,000/month to five-figure MRR can shift a founder’s choices—allowing hiring, product investment, and a clearer immigration narrative. While no single success guarantees a green card or long-term status, a real business with customers and revenue often strengthens immigration filings.

The human side

Behind every filing is a person weighing family expectations, health insurance, and rent. Tomar wrote he hid the news from his parents and learned to keep calm under pressure. Many readers found that detail more resonant than the numbers. It captures the quiet cost of living on a visa—where a manager’s decision at 7 a.m. can change not just a career, but a life plan.

For immigrant communities, Tomar’s example fuels an ongoing debate: when does it make sense to chase a business idea after a layoff?

• Some will choose safety, seeking a quick new sponsor via Form I-129.
• Others will buy time with Form I-539 while mapping a founder strategy.
• A few will bet fully on themselves, tracking every invoice and contract in case they later pursue Form I-140 for an NIW.

What’s clear: a sudden job loss can become a turning point. With a plan, strict compliance, and support from co-founders and friends, an entrepreneur like Tomar can turn a shock into a path forward. His early results—$50,000 in revenue and $10,000 MRR within six months—don’t erase the risks, but they show what’s possible when resolve meets careful steps inside the rules.