Indian Tech Pro Piyush Varanjani Secures O-1 Visa, SF Startup

(UNITED STATES) An Indian tech professional, Piyush Varanjani, said he has secured an O-1 visa in 2025, marking a major personal and professional milestone nearly a decade after he first set foot in the United States 🇺🇸. The O-1 visa recognizes “extraordinary ability,” a legal term that sets a high bar for achievement in fields like science, business, education, the arts, or athletics.

Varanjani, who worked more than four years at Stripe before leaving in November 2024 to build an artificial intelligence startup, said San Francisco is now home and the right place to scale his ideas. He announced the approval on X, posting: “Got my O-1 approved! Time to build my own reality,” and joked, “After my mom, now it’s the US who thinks I am an individual of extraordinary ability.”

Reaction and community response

His message drew a rush of congratulations from founders, engineers, and investors who have watched the O-1 visa become a practical option for top global talent in AI and high-growth tech. The reaction also highlighted a common immigrant theme: time and persistence.

• Over ten years ago, he arrived in the US with “a fistful of dreams” — and “harem pants,” as he put it — stacking experience until he felt ready to launch his own company.
• With the O-1 visa, he can now build in the same city where his customers, investors, and peers gather, where funding and partnerships move quickly.
• Varanjani offered to answer questions on social media, signaling how peer support now shapes the O-1 journey: founders and engineers share sample evidence lists, discuss strong referee letters, and recommend attorneys.

Why the O-1 matters for tech and AI talent

For many skilled workers from India and other countries, the O-1 visa has become a lifeline that does not rely on a lottery.

• No annual cap — approvals are not capped each year.
• Initial stay up to three years, with one-year extensions if work continues in the same area.
• Flexibility that suits researchers, artists, and entrepreneurs who can demonstrate industry recognition without waiting for the H-1B season.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the O-1 structure aligns well with fast-moving fields such as AI, where impact is often shown via publications, citations, patents, high-profile roles, or media coverage — rather than degrees alone. For founders, securing work authorization without a lottery can mean the difference between launching a team in San Francisco or doing it remotely from abroad. Investors also prefer teams that can be physically present for product work, customer meetings, and hiring.

The legal test: “extraordinary ability”

The core legal test for the O-1 visa is “extraordinary ability,” measured through a set list of evidence. While a major international award (e.g., a Nobel Prize) can meet the test outright, most applicants qualify by meeting at least three criteria from a specified list.

Common criteria include:
– National or international prizes or awards
– Membership in associations that require outstanding achievement
– Published material about the person’s work in major outlets or journals
– Service as a judge or reviewer of others’ work
– Original contributions of major significance
– Authorship of scholarly articles, patents, or widely used open-source projects
– Critical or key roles at recognized companies or labs
– High salary or equity compensation relative to peers

For artists, a parallel standard focuses on distinction in the arts and entertainment.

Varanjani’s path in practice

Varanjani’s story illustrates how the O-1 test plays out in real life.

• He built technical credibility and a public record of work over years.
• He left a well-known company to “go all in on AI,” then used that record as evidence in his petition.
• His openness on social media — offering to answer questions — reflects a broader community-driven approach to assembling O-1 petitions.

This peer help lowers the barrier for others who are near the standard but unsure how to present their record.

Filing mechanics and practical steps

• Petitioner requirement: A US employer or a qualified agent must file Form I-129 with USCIS. The petition asks the government to approve a specific plan of work in the person’s area of extraordinary ability.
  • Link: USCIS Form I-129
• The petition typically includes:
  • A cover letter and detailed job description
  • A work itinerary if relevant
  • Expert letters from leaders in the field
  • Press coverage and records of awards or achievements
• Consular step: After USCIS approves, the person applies for the visa stamp at a US consulate abroad, unless already in the US and eligible for a change of status.
• Multiple employers: O-1 workers can work for more than one employer, but each employer must file its own petition or an agent must cover the full scope of work.
• Timing: Applicants can use premium processing to speed decisions; otherwise timelines vary. The evidentiary quality and clarity of the petition matter most.

Official guidance on O-1 eligibility and filing is posted by USCIS: USCIS: O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement.

Practical advice for prospective applicants

Founders and engineers should translate product or research success into immigration language. Practical steps include:

1. Collect proof regularly — don’t wait until the last minute.
2. Request detailed letters from respected, independent experts that explain concrete impact, not just praise.
3. Keep the job description specific and tied to the applicant’s strongest field of achievement.
4. Time filings around funding and hiring so visa steps don’t stall the business.
5. If planning multiple roles or consulting, use an agent or file multiple petitions to keep work authorized.

These actions make the case less about raw talent and more about telling a coherent, evidence-backed story — similar to building a startup pitch.

Scope, specificity, and petition strategy

• Petitions that are too broad (for example, “work on any AI project”) may face more scrutiny.
• Narrow, detailed descriptions — e.g., building a specific model, platform, or product line — tend to fare better.
• Agent petitions with clear itineraries help map multiple consulting gigs or roles without overreaching.

Tech sector impact and human costs

Varanjani’s approval comes at a time when founders and researchers in AI are racing to capture markets. As of 2025, no major policy change has limited the O-1 category, and it remains a favored path for highly skilled tech professionals.

• For investors: better odds of founders being present for pitches and product work.
• For employers: access to senior hires who might not fit other categories.
• For families: spouses and unmarried children under 21 can come as O-3 dependents, but O-3 spouses are not work-authorized, which can create financial and personal trade-offs.

The human cost is real: people move continents, leave families, and face long hours while building new lives. Wins like Varanjani’s carry years of sacrifice and mean tangible stability.

Policy context and future outlook

• The O-1 is stable for now, but immigration policy can change with broader reform.
• Advocates argue merit-based pathways support the innovation economy; critics raise concerns about fairness and consistency.
• Under the current administration, O-1 cases continue to be processed under longstanding rules, with no new cap added as of 2025.

Key takeaways and closing thoughts

The O-1 standard is tough but reachable. People build toward it by stacking achievements, sharing work publicly, and taking on roles with measurable impact. Support from mentors and peers can fill gaps. When the approval arrives, it opens doors that were once out of reach.

Varanjani’s move from a large fintech to founding a startup in late 2024 shows how immigration decisions are often tied to career timing. Leaving Stripe allowed him to fundraise, hire, and ship early product versions. Securing the O-1 then locked in the legal ability to live and work in San Francisco as the company grows.

For readers exploring the O-1 path:

• Review official USCIS standards and filing steps: USCIS: O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
• Use Form I-129 for petitions: USCIS Form I-129

Varanjani’s story illustrates a broader trend: people with strong track records choosing the O-1 route to turn bold ideas into real companies. For those standing at the edge of that path today, his message lands with simple power: keep building, collect proof, and ask for help when you need it. The door can open.