I lived in the United States for over a decade.

I came here first on an F-1 visa. Later, I moved to H-1B.

Like most professionals, I assumed the only realistic path to a green card was EB-2 or EB-3. Long backlogs. Endless waiting. Uncertainty for years, sometimes decades.

At some point, I realized something wasn’t adding up.

Highly skilled professionals were building companies, leading teams, shipping products, and driving real impact. Yet the immigration system treated them as replaceable.

That’s when I stumbled upon the EB-1A pathway.

At first, it sounded like a myth. Something meant only for PhDs, researchers, or Nobel Prize winners.

But instead of dismissing it, I decided to test it.

I spent over 1,800 hours across 18 months studying regulations, reading USCIS decisions, analyzing approvals and denials, and reverse-engineering what actually works.

I built my own EB-1A case from scratch.

And it worked.

I got my EB-1A approval.

That experience completely changed my perspective.

I realized the biggest problem wasn’t eligibility. It was misinformation.

So I started building EB1A Experts.

Not as a content site. Not as a marketing company. But as an execution-first, systems-driven platform to help exceptional professionals navigate EB-1A the right way.

Today, EB1A Experts is a 250+ person company working with professionals from 1,000+ companies across tech, product, engineering, AI, data, and leadership roles.

What we’ve done so far:

→ Helped 260+ individuals secure EB-1A green cards
→ Achieved 200+ EB-1A approvals in 2025 alone
→ Built one of the largest EB-1A-focused teams globally
→ Worked with founders, ICs, managers, and executives, not just academics
→ Scaled with a strong focus on data, process, and long-term credibility

One thing I care deeply about.

EB-1A is not just for PhDs and researchers.

That belief is one of the biggest myths in immigration.

I am living proof. And so are hundreds of our clients.

EB-1A is about high achievements, not job titles. Not degrees. Not publications alone.

My work today focuses on:

• Busting EB-1A myths with real data
• Building scalable legal-tech and immigration systems
• Helping high-impact professionals take control of their future
• Sharing lessons on execution, team building, and long-term thinking

If you’re a founder, operator, or high-skilled professional navigating U.S. immigration. Or if you’ve been told EB-1A is not for you.

You might want to follow along.

We’re building clarity in a space full of noise.

Raghu Reddy

Tampa showed up.

We just wrapped our in-person EB-1A session in Tampa with a room full of founders, researchers, and high-performing professionals focused on one thing: strategy.

No surface-level advice. We broke down what actually strengthens a petition - how to position your work against USCIS criteria, how to document impact properly, and why timing is part of the equation.

If you missed Tampa, we’re heading to Atlanta next!

Today in Atlanta (3–6 PM), we’ll walk through:

• How EB-1A eligibility is evaluated
• Common weaknesses we see in filings
• How to strategically position your profile before submission
• Live Q&A with our team

It’s structured, practical, and designed for professionals who want clarity before they file.

Register here before spots fill up: https://luma.com/1z9fno4g

#EB1A #ImmigrationLaw #ExtraordinaryAbility #Entrepreneurs #TampaEvents #AtlantaEvents

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Setup time

Set up a free evaluation here: https://eb1aexperts.com/eb1a-green-card

At EB1A Experts, we specialize in providing comprehensive support and insights to EB1A aspirants, ensuring they navigate the complex immigration landscape with confidence. Our commitment is to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to successfully pursue their EB1A aspirations. Join us on the path to success with EB1A Experts – your trusted partner in achieving immigration excellence.
Ready to turn your success into U.S. residency? Learn more at https://eb1aexperts.com/ 

Legal Disclaimer

The information provided by EB1A Experts is for educational and informational purposes only. While we strive to offer valuable insights, as we are not a law firm we do not provide legal advice or representation before U.S. immigration authorities.

CEO & Head of AI

As a Product Manager for at Salesforce, I spearheaded the development of several key features that significantly improved the platform's capabilities:

Advanced Natural Language Processing: We integrated the latest NLP techniques into the platform, resulting in a 20% increase in accuracy for text-based insights.
Predictive Modeling: We implemented a new machine learning algorithm that resulted in a 15% increase in the accuracy of predictive models, providing users with more reliable forecasts and recommendations.
Integrated AI Across Core Products: We seamlessly integrated Generative AI into several of our core products in, Service Cloud. This enabled users to leverage AI capabilities in their day-to-day operations, resulting in a 30% increase in the adoption of AI-powered features.

Partnering with the marketing team to create messaging and positioning for the updated Generative AI capabilities
Working closely with sales teams to understand customer needs and pain points and use that information to drive feature prioritization

Senior Manager, Product Management

I built a conversation builder product in less than 2 years that has 500M revenue potential. Conversation builder helps fortune 100 clients build Digital & Voice Conversational AI bots to serve their users. To create this best-in-industry product, I partnered with various stakeholders from C-Suite Executive teams, UX Research, Design, Data scientists, Engineering, Marketing & Sales teams.  The tool decreased the time to market by over tenfold and reduced the cost by over half. 

User research and Design: Collaborate with the user research and the design team to identify the correct user problems and build best user experiences by adopting the design thinking methodologies. 

Roadmap: Prioritize the user problems to define the Roadmap by evaluating the users, market, and competition. Work closely with the CTO, VP, and Senior Director of Product to define the strategy of the business line.

Data science: Define the problem statement and work closely with the Data scientists to solve the user problems with the best ML/AI, Natural Language Processing, and Unsupervised Machine learning models. Democratize these AI solutions across the company.

Engineering: Communicate the Roadmap to the engineering teams and set the Milestones. Work closely with them to make sure we deliver on the Roadmap. 

Product Marketing: Collaborative with the marketing teams for the go-to market strategy of the products.

Strategy: Work with the VP of Strategy to develop a Roadmap for the product.

Senior Product Manager - Conversational AI

Solving the job seeker pain points by improving the search capabilities with ML and NLP. Creating a strategy for the overall growth in the core value of the products. Working with Data science and other engineering teams to build & deploy the Machine learning models which has led to an increase in user engagement by 25% and increasing the revenues by 10%.

• Develop a Product vision, strategy, and sound business plans to build the next generation search. 
• Working with the Product owners across the company to understand how we could incorporate the Machine learning solutions into their products. 
• Working with the data science teams to incorporate the new scalable machine learning technologies to incorporate into the products. 
• A/B testing to increase the user engagement/ satisfaction and LTV of the product.
•  Working with the user research teams to understand the user problems and find out innovative solutions to solve the problems.

Product Manager

Analyzed and streamlined the data from the databases using the ETL tools and BI tools such as Tableau and Microstrategy to build enterprise data visualization and reporting software applications. These applications have resulted in decreasing the costs for the Client's by 10% and increasing the revenues by 5%.

•	Creating use cases and detailed product requirements by working with sales and customer success managers. 

•	Manage Business Development through client engagement, working with cross-functional teams, such as brand marketing, User Interface (UI/UX), Engineering, and QA testing teams. 
• Coordinate Product launches by working with the Marketing team. 

•	Develop process flow diagrams, functional specifications, system design documents, and requirement documentation by working with the respective stakeholders. 

• Work closely with the data science teams to solve user problems using natural language search and machine learning technologies.

Project Manager

• Paint a clear vision of the company and communicate across all the members of the company. 

• Working in establishing the relations with the partners across the country, which has eased in selling the products, by-products produced, and increased the revenues of the company by over 20% in a span of a year.

•Finding different channels to procure the raw material in an efficient way has led to a decrease in the costs by over 10%. 

• Designing and testing the improvements in the manufacturing plant by working with Engineers to increase the efficiency of production. 

• Working with the government agencies to obtain the necessary permissions required for ease of the operations. 

• Making the process flow diagrams to work with the financial institutions and government agencies to facilitate the ease of loans and subsidies.

CEO and Co Founder

Working with the product team to prioritize projects and to maintain a healthy pipeline. Identifying potential improvements to our platforms and communicating them to the appropriate business owners.    
•	Assuming the role of Scrum Master by leading daily stand-ups, Sprint planning and ensuring agile methodology is followed. 
•	Gathering Project requirements, Project Financials and task breakdowns. Software development life cycle and software release process is followed.
•	Utilize project management tools such as Microsoft Project to effectively manage timeline and resources.
•	Overseeing the release process and generating release notes to send to clients detailing the changes made.

Project Manager Intern

Spearheaded the team to make the software’s to increase the life of the polymer recycling machinery. The techniques increased the life of machinery by 10%, which resulted in an increase in sales by 20%.
•	Use the analysis of the data produced from the sensors of Manufacturing Equipment, Polymer Recycling Equipment, and improving the product features and helps Business Intelligence and supply chain management.
•	Making visualization dashboards to represent the modeled data from Excel and SAS for Marketing teams.
•	Analyze Strategy, success Metrics, KPIs  and product performance. 
•	Improving the features and content in the products to be used in the Search Engine Marketing.

Senior Product Manager

Immigrant → EB-1A Green Card | Helping high-impact professionals control their future

We wrapped our in-person EB-1A session in Tampa and Atlanta with a focused, intimate discussion that allowed us to go deeper into real strategy.

We covered:
• How USCIS evaluates EB-1A evidence
• Where strong candidates unintentionally weaken their case
• How to position your work before filing
• Extended, practical Q&A around real scenarios

When the setting allows for real dialogue, the strategy gets sharper and that’s exactly what happened in Atlanta.

Next and final stop: Charlotte at 4:30 PM EST. If you want clarity before you file, join us in Charlotte.

Register here: https://luma.com/8w799rg0

#EB1A #ImmigrationLaw #ExtraordinaryAbility #Entrepreneurs #AtlantaEvents #CharlotteEvents

Charlotte closed out the series strong.

Our Senior Paralegal Manager, AINOY RINTHALUKAY, joined us for the final in-person EB-1A session in Charlotte — and it was our biggest turnout yet.

The room was engaged, sharp, and ready to get into real strategy. We spent the afternoon breaking down how USCIS evaluates evidence, where strong candidates unintentionally weaken their cases, and how to position a profile before filing.

The caliber of questions across this entire series reinforced something we keep seeing: professionals aren't looking for hype. They're looking for clarity.
Grateful to everyone who joined us in Tampa, Atlanta, and Charlotte and thank you, Alicia Zajaczkowski, for moderating all three events and keeping everything running smoothly.

#EB1A #ImmigrationLaw #ExtraordinaryAbility #Entrepreneurs #CharlotteEvents

Seasoned Business Immigration Professional

Marketing and Graphic Design

EB1A Experts has grown to 250+ employees, and we're just getting started. We need our next key leader.

We're Hiring: Vice President of Operations: Hyderabad, India

We're looking for a VP of Operations to lead our India office. You'll oversee Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, and Operations — reporting directly to me.

We need someone with good leadership experience, a track record of scaling operations, and the ability to partner with our US team across time zones.

If this sounds like you — or someone you know — reach out or apply here: https://lnkd.in/gYcwVyS7

You would not believe this.

A good friend of mine and his brother both got EB-1A approved.

Same family. Same timeline. Two green cards.

Here's the thing most people miss:

They weren't Nobel laureates.
They weren't CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.
They weren't famous.

But they were each the best at what they did in their niche.


Both 

→ Documented every contribution
→ Collected recommendation letters from industry leaders
→ Built a narrative that showed sustained impact

The result? Two approvals. Same household celebrating together.

EB-1A isn't about being famous. It's about being exceptional in YOUR lane.

If two brothers from the same family can both qualify, what's stopping you?

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

The March 2026 Visa Bulletin just dropped.
And it's one of the most significant months we've seen in years.

Here's what happened 👇

🔥 EB-2 India Dates for Filing: +11 MONTHS
From Dec 2013 → Nov 2014.
That's the largest single-month jump in recent memory.
If your priority date falls in this window, file your I-485 NOW.

🎉 EB-2 Rest of World: NOW CURRENT
Was Oct 15, 2024 last month.
Now it's completely current.
If you're EB-2 from anywhere outside China — you can file TODAY.

☝️ EB-1 India & China Dates for Filing: +4 MONTHS
Jumped from Aug 2023 → Dec 2023.
EB-1 continues to move faster than any other category.
This is exactly why EB-1A is the smartest path for most professionals.

📊 EB-2 ROW Final Action: +6.5 MONTHS
Moved from Apr 2024 → Oct 2024.
Significant forward movement across the board.

But here's the part most people miss:

Look at the GAP between Dates for Filing and Final Action.

EB-2 India: 14-month gap
→ You CAN file I-485 and get EAD + travel permit
→ But your green card itself may take over a year more

EB-1 India: 9-month gap
→ Much smaller gap = faster to actual green card

EB-1 ROW: BOTH current
→ File and get your green card. Period.

This is why EB-1A changes the game.

While EB-2 India applicants celebrate an 11-month jump
to reach November 2014...

EB-1 India is already at December 2023.

That's a 9-YEAR difference.

And with EB-1A:
→ No employer sponsorship needed
→ No PERM labor certification
→ No waiting for your company to "start the process"
→ Premium processing in 15 business days

⚠️ One important warning:
The State Department noted that these large movements are partly because consular visa processing has slowed due to recent administration actions. If processing picks back up, retrogression could happen later this fiscal year.

Translation: Don't wait. File now if you're eligible.

The window may not stay open. 

Want to know if you qualify for EB-1A? We've helped 250+ professionals get their green cards through EB-1A.

Book a free consultation → https://lnkd.in/gwH47EiG

Follow Raghu Reddy for monthly visa bulletin breakdowns and EB-1A insights.

3 cities. 3 days. The biggest EB-1A event ever. Period.

🎯 Free LIVE Info Session: Obtaining a Green Card Through the EB-1A Visa Path

Join me as I share my journey and walk you through the EB-1A process, including eligibility, evidence strategy, timelines, and common pitfalls.

The session also includes a live Q&A to address your questions.
📍 Tampa, FL – Saturday, Feb 28 | 3:00–6:00 PM EST - 
https://luma.com/r510t1fy
📍 Atlanta, GA – Sunday, Mar 1 | 3:00–6:00 PM EST - https://luma.com/1z9fno4g
📍 Charlotte, NC – Monday, Mar 2 | 4:30–7:00 PM EST - https://luma.com/8w799rg0

Whether you’re in tech, research, business, healthcare, or emerging fields - this session will help you understand if EB1A is the right path for you.

Disclaimer: This session is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individual results may vary.

My hands were shaking.

I just got off the phone with a client.

His EB-1A was approved.

With only 10 days to spare before his daughter turned 21.

Let me explain why this matters:

When a child of an EB-1A applicant turns 21, they "age out."

They can no longer ride on the parent's green card application.

They'd have to start their own immigration journey from scratch.

This father had been fighting for a long time, Delays. Uncertainty.

His daughter was 20 years, 355 days old when the approval came.

10. Days.

Think about that.

The difference between your child getting a green card and having to restart the entire process from zero was 10 days.

This is why I tell every parent:

→ Don't wait until it's "the right time"
→ File early. Build your profile NOW.
→ Every month you delay is a month your child can't get back.

The immigration system doesn't care about your family. You have to.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

I want to be honest for a second.

A client once told me: "Raghu, I don't have the money. But I need EB-1A."

That conversation changed how I think about immigration.

Here's what most people don't realize about EB-1A costs:

Now compare it to:

→ Staying on H-1B for 10-20 more years waiting for EB-2/EB-3 
→ Lost promotions because you can't switch jobs freely
→ The stress of depending on one employer for your legal status
→ Your kids aging out at 21

The math:
10 years of career limitations 

I told that client: "Let's figure this out."

We built a payment plan.
We prioritized the strongest evidence first.
We filed strategically.

6 months later: Approved.

Free to switch jobs. Free to start a business. Free.

EB-1A isn't an expense. It's the best career investment you'll ever make.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

My lawyer friends are going to kill me for this...

But someone needs to say it out loud:

You don't need to be "extraordinary" to file for the Extraordinary Ability green card. You just need the right strategy.

And I'm flying to 3 cities in 3 days to prove it.

🎤 Free LIVE Info Session: Obtaining a Green Card Through the EB-1A Visa Path
I'll break down the full EB-1A process — eligibility, evidence strategy, timelines, and the costly mistakes most people make — plus a live Q&A where you can ask me anything.

📍 Tampa, FL – Sat, Feb 28 | 3–6 PM EST
https://luma.com/r510t1fy
📍 Atlanta, GA – Sun, Mar 1 | 3–6 PM EST
https://luma.com/1z9fno4g
📍 Charlotte, NC – Mon, Mar 2 | 4:30–7 PM EST
https://luma.com/8w799rg0

Tech. Research. Business. Healthcare. Emerging fields — doesn't matter.

If you've been sitting on the sidelines thinking "that's not for someone like me," this session is literally built for you.

Disclaimer: This session is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Individual results may vary.

10 things you've been told about EB-1A criteria that are completely wrong.

Let me set the record straight.

USCIS lists 10 criteria for EB-1A. You need to meet 3.

But here's what nobody tells you:

Myth 1: "You need awards" → You need RECOGNITION, not trophies.
Myth 2: "More criteria = better" → Quality of evidence matters more than quantity.
Myth 3: "Publications mean papers" → Media coverage counts too.
Myth 4: "You need 100+ citations" → Context matters more than raw numbers.
Myth 5: "Judging means formal panels" → Peer review counts.
Myth 6: "Original contribution means patents" → Open-source, frameworks, methods all count.
Myth 7: "High salary proves extraordinary ability" → It helps but isn't sufficient alone.
Myth 8: "You need a PhD" → No education requirement for EB-1A.
Myth 9: "Only researchers qualify" → Engineers, founders, artists, athletes all can.
Myth 10: "You need to be globally famous" → Top of YOUR niche is enough.

The 3 most commonly approved criteria in 2025:

→ Critical or leading role (Criterion 6) 
→ Authorship of scholarly articles (Criterion 7)
→ Judging the work of others (Criterion 4)

67% approval rate in Q3 2025. Still strong.

But 40-50% of applications now receive RFEs.

The bar is rising. Your evidence needs to be airtight.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

I couldn't believe it.

A friend of mine got his EB-1A approved.

His priority date is current.
He's been in the US only 5 years.

Let me put that in perspective:

Most Indian-born professionals on EB-2 or EB-3 wait 10-15 years for a green card.

Some wait 20+.

My friend? Five years. Total.

From landing in the US to green card in hand.

Here's what made the difference:

He didn't wait to "become extraordinary."
He started documenting his work from Day 1.

→ Every conference talk — saved
→ Every publication — tracked citations
→ Every peer review invitation — documented
→ Every media mention — archived

By year 3, he had more than enough evidence.
By year 4, he filed.
By year 5, approved. The priority date is current for the rest of the world.

The EB-1 category has NO per-country backlog for most applicants.

While EB-2 India is stuck at 2014 priority dates, EB-1 India is at 2023. 

That's a 9-year difference. 

EB-1A isn't just faster. It's a completely different timeline.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

It felt like a punch to the gut.

"We have issued a Request for Evidence on your EB-1A petition."

40-50% of EB-1A applications now receive an RFE.

If you got one, don't panic.

Here's what I've learned from handling 260+ EB-1A cases:

The top 5 reasons USCIS issues RFEs:

1. Weak "final merits" argument
You met 3 criteria but didn't show WHY your work matters at a national level.

2. Vague recommendation letters
"She is excellent at her job" means nothing.
"Her algorithm reduced processing time by 40% across 3 Fortune 500 deployments" means everything.

3. No context for achievements
USCIS officers aren't experts in your field. They need YOU to explain significance.

4. Outdated evidence
Awards from 10 years ago with nothing recent signals a stale profile.

5. Quantity over quality
20 recommendation letters ≠ strong case.
5 targeted letters from credible sources = strong case.

The good news?

60% of RFE responses result in approval.

That's the same rate as applications that never got RFEs.

An RFE is not a denial. It's a second chance to make your case.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Did you know that EB-2 NIW approval rates collapsed by 46% in one year?

From 79.99% in FY 2023 to 43.31% in FY 2024.

Meanwhile, EB-1A held steady at 67%.

Let that sink in.

For years, immigration attorneys told people:

"EB-2 NIW is easier. Start there."

That advice is now outdated.

Here's the current comparison:

EB-1A:
→ 67% approval rate (Q3 2025)
→ 15-day premium processing
→ No per-country backlog (ROW = current)
→ Self-petitioned
→ No employer needed

EB-2 NIW:
→ 54% approval rate (Q3 2025)
→ 45-day premium processing
→ Significant backlogs (India/China)
→ Self-petitioned
→ Stricter "national interest" standard now applied

The math is clear.

If you qualify for EB-1A, there is no reason to choose EB-2 NIW instead.

EB-1A has:
→ Higher approval rates
→ Faster processing
→ Shorter wait times
→ Better outcomes

Stop listening to 2023 advice in 2026.

The landscape has changed. Your strategy should too.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

📊 February EB-1A Approval Recap

Momentum continues.

✅ 11 approvals in Feb

Where the approvals came from:

🔹 AI & Machine Learning: 36% Search, personalization, real-time decision systems, AI governance.

🔹 Cloud & Distributed Systems: 27% Database technologies, BI infrastructure, performance engineering.

🔹 Specialized Engineering: 27% Semiconductor design, optical AR/VR, embedded systems for automated power.

🔹 Enterprise Technologies: 9% SAP, financial cloud integration.

Experience profile:

📈 Mean (avg) experience: 14.5 years 📊 Median experience: 14 years. Half below 14. Half above.

What stands out this month:

AI and ML dominated again — over a third of all approvals. But this month also showed strong representation from highly specialized fields like semiconductor physical design, optical science for AR/VR, and embedded systems for automated power.

You don't have to be in software to qualify. If your work is pushing a field forward, EB-1A is built for you.

The data keeps proving the same thing. It's not about the title. It's about how your contributions are framed, documented, and presented.

If you're a senior engineer, architect, or tech leader wondering whether EB-1A is realistic for you — the data says yes, if the story is built right.

Set up a call using the link: https://lnkd.in/gwH47EiG

Happy to share more insights.

Disclaimer: Content and any other data shared are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.

Someone has to say this.

The H-1B system in 2026 is fundamentally different from what it was 2 years ago.

Here's what changed:

1. Weighted lottery is HERE.
Starting FY 2027 (March 2026 registration):
→ Level 4 wage = 4 entries (107% higher odds)
→ Level 1 wage = 1 entry (48% LOWER odds)

If you're early career, your chances just got cut in half.

2. $100,000 proclamation fee.
Per new H-1B petition. Upheld by federal court in December 2025.

Your employer now pays $100K+ just to sponsor you.

Think they'll do that for a mid-level role?

3. Social media screening.
H-1B and H-4 applicants must now disclose social media accounts.
Accounts must be set to public during adjudication.

4. Processing holds.
USCIS placed holds on adjudications for nationals of "high-risk" countries.

The old playbook of "get H-1B → wait for green card" is breaking.

This is why I tell every tech professional:

If you have extraordinary achievements, EB-1A is your path out.

→ No employer sponsorship needed
→ No lottery
→ No $100K fee
→ 15-day premium processing

The system is changing. Your strategy should too.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

EB1-A Recipient | World Championship Athlete | COO & Leadership Strategist | UC Phd Candidate | Building Resilient Teams & Systems.

If you’re an Indian student or professional on an F-1 visa, overwhelmed by USCIS rules, you’re in the right place.
“I went from F-1 → EB-1A as a world championship inline hockey athlete and PhD student. I didn’t have clarity, so I built my own system.”

“On LinkedIn, I share:

EB-1A strategy & evidence building
Immigration mindset & resilience
Storytelling & documentation systems
Lessons from sports, trauma-informed leadership, and consulting calls”

“If you want clarity on your own case, book a 15-min EB-1A Clarity Call here: https://calendly.com/shreyakothari111/15min

Here is my story:
20 Years of Discipline and Leadership
From skating at age 3 to representing India at the World Inline Hockey Championship, my sports journey built resilience, discipline, and leadership that continue to guide me today. Every fall taught me how to rise stronger — a lesson I carry far beyond the rink.

From Student to EB-1 Achiever
6 years ago, I moved to the U.S. on an F-1 visa. The path to EB-1 approval meant navigating cultural shifts, financial struggles, and uncertainty. Each challenge became a stepping stone, transforming pain into power and shaping my voice as a leader and advocate for resilience.

Resilience in Business and Leadership
Now, I bring the mindset of an athlete and the perspective of an immigrant achiever into business, fintech, and leadership. My focus is on resilience, authenticity, and helping others turn challenges into opportunities for growth.

What I Care About
Resilience & Healing – turning struggles into strength
Leadership Development – leading with courage and authenticity
Immigrant & Athlete Voices – inspiring change through storytelling

My Mission
To build trust, inspire resilience, and empower others to grow through challenges.

Core strengths:

• People Leadership
• Scaling in High-Growth Environments
• Organizational Health & Culture
• Long-Range HR Strategy
• Executive Coaching & Advisory
• Business Operations & Enablement

For booking a 1:1 call with me, email me : 
shreyakothari111@gmail.com

Shreya Kothari

Sharing a milestone.

I’m at a point where I no longer require visa sponsorship to work in the U.S. 🇺🇸
 
After years of building credibility across business operations, strategy, and cross-functional leadership, I’m now exploring my next role.

I’m open to opportunities in:
-Chief of Staff
-Business Operations
-Account Management
-Partnerships / Growth

I work best as a strategic partner to leaders, bringing clarity, execution discipline, and alignment across teams.

Open to U.S.-based roles (in-office or hybrid, depending on role).

EB-1A Recipient | World Championship Athlete | Building Girls who play | Upstream Talent & Immigration Strategy for AI & High-Skill Roles | Pre-Filing Positioning & Readiness (EB-1A, O-1) & I absolutely love pizza 🍕

Most people think clarity is cognitive.
It’s not.

 It’s physiological.

When your nervous system is in survival mode:
-you over-submit
-you over-explain
-you rush decisions
-you file too early

Calm isn’t a personality trait.
It’s a strategic advantage.

Every strong decision I’ve made.
in sport, immigration, and career. 
came after regulation, not before it.

You don’t need certainty to move forward.
You need enough calm to see options clearly.

Panic narrows choices.
Clarity expands them.

That’s not mindset talk.
That’s system literacy.

Missed the H-1B lottery.
Year 1.
Missed again.
Year 2.
Missed again.
Year 3.

Was told to wait.
To be patient.
To be realistic.
To have a backup country.

Same resume.
Same work ethic.
Same discipline.

What changed wasn’t the facts.
It was the story I was telling myself.

I stopped narrating my life as:
“unlucky”
“limited by status”
“at the mercy of a system”

And started narrating it as:
intentional
strategic
in my control

I documented my work.
I sharpened my positioning.
I treated my career like an athlete treats training — cycles, reps, proof.

Eventually, the outcome changed.

EB-1A.

Not because the system became kinder.
But because I became clearer.

Same history.
Different author.
Completely different future.

I fired the narrator who thought waiting was the only option.

And wrote a better one.

#eb1a #athlete #professional #leadership #firstgeneration

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🥇 15 Years Later
From silver medal at age 5 to bronze medal  at 20.
15 years of practice before recognition.
 Success is slow until it’s not.

I remember my first national silver medal in 1999.
My sports scholarship that year was ₹350, about $4.20.
Four dollars.

My first international scholarship? ₹300,000 about $3,600.
Fifteen years later.

It started with borrowed skates.
It took me 15 years to own my first pair of inline skates,shipped from the U.S.
I trained for years on cracked roads, broken bearings, and borrowed time.

The stress of not having gear was real.
But so was the belief that one day, I would build something of my own.

They asked me in America what my expertise was worth.
 I didn’t show them a salary slip.

I showed them a scoreboard.
Years played: 20.
Countries represented: 1.
 
Podiums: 50 plus.
Hours trained: uncountable.

That’s the math behind my “extraordinary ability.”
The same brown girl who once borrowed skates now holds an EB-1A approval in the United States.

for demonstrating excellence in a male-dominated sport from a country that barely funds it.

Here’s what that journey taught me:

They can question your ambition.
 They can doubt your timing.
 They can underestimate your story.
 But they can’t rewrite your evidence.

You don’t need validation to be valuable.
 You just need proof and persistence.

Thank you, JITO INCUBATION & INNOVATION FOUNDATION, for the recognition.  Grateful to meet you Rajesh Jain. I wasn't present to receive the award personally, so I'm grateful for my family!

💬 If you’re an international professional navigating your own uphill climb, from uncertainty to clarity: let’s map your next step.

 👉 Book a 15-minute clarity call: https://lnkd.in/gw_YCbGS
 👉 Follow Shreya Kothari, MBA for clarity frameworks and leadership storytelling.
 👉 Follow Shreshtha Global Services for immigration & strategy insights.🥇 

⚖️ Disclaimer: I am not an immigration attorney. The information provided during this conversation is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. The material provided herein is only intended for general guidance and is not a substitute for specific legal counsel. Do not take legal action in sole reliance on the contents of this talk without seeking the advice of an authorized immigration attorney.

#EB1A #F1Visa #ImmigrantJourney #WomenInSports #Leadership #Resilience #Clarity #BrownWomenLead #NevermindShreya #TeamIndia #Indianimmigrants #sports #athletes

Most immigration problems don’t start when work authorization ends.

They start when no one is tracking what comes next.

By the time urgency appears:
 – options are narrower
 – pressure is higher
 – mistakes are harder to undo

This is why upstream visibility matters more than last-minute fixes.

If you work in immigration law, global mobility, or HR, and this resonates, I'd be happy to connect and exchange notes.

For a long time, I didn’t see people who looked like me, sounded like me, or came from where I came from in the rooms I aspired to be in.

So I questioned whether I belonged there at all.

As a first-generation immigrant, I learned early that visibility isn’t just about recognition: t’s about permission.

Permission to imagine more. Permission to try. Permission to stay when things feel unfamiliar.

When one of us rises, it does something quiet but powerful.
It tells someone watching, “Maybe I can too.”

That’s why I share my journey, not as a highlight reel, but as proof. Proof that paths don’t have to be perfect or linear to be valid. Proof that you don’t need to fit a mold to create impact.

Representation isn’t about being exceptional.
It’s about being seen.

And when we’re seen, we stop shrinking our dreams to fit what feels realistic. We start building what once felt impossible.

So if you’re breaking barriers, even quietly: keep going.
Someone is watching and finding courage in your steps.

I’m a first-generation professional from India, an EB-1A recipient, world champion athlete, finance professional and a soon-to-be founder of Girls Who Play: building pathways for women and immigrants to document impact and lead with confidence.

#RepresentationMatters #business #sports #health #mindset #growth #discipline #habits
#ImmigrantJourney #eb1a #f1visa #internationalstudents #h1bvisa #f1visa
#FirstGen #Leadership #confidence
#BuildingDifferently #NevermindShreya

I’m an immigrant woman who received her EB-1A at 31.

But it didn’t start beautifully.

No English as first language.
No guidance.
Barely enough money to make ends meet. 
And emotionally, I was unraveling.

I remember nights crying, not because of work, but because I hadn’t saved enough to support my parents the way I wanted to. Watching your family struggle while you’re trying to survive in a new country does something to you. It lights a fire, but it also breaks you open.

I knew I had to change things.

No matter how long it took or how messy it got, I kept going. I worked. I saved. I faced fears I didn’t feel ready for. 

I was once judged for my broken English,
I was rejected by companies,
I was called mediocre by toxic bosses,
 and here we are.

This journey wasn’t polished.
 It wasn’t linear.
 And it definitely wasn’t easy.

Things get ugly before they get better.
 And when they do get better: hold on. 

Build. Share. Become.

I had an ugly past.
But our past doesn’t determine our future.

Success isn’t a straight line.
So honor the ups and the downs.

And when you’re all the way down,

remember this:
It’s only up from here.

Beacuse:
Through pain came power.
Through power came peace.
Through peace came purpose.

About me: I’m a first-generation professional from India, an EB-1A recipient, and a soon-to-be founder of Girls Who Play, building pathways for women and immigrants to document impact and lead with confidence.

#firstgen #immigrant #womeninusa #india #internationalstudents #eb1a #financeandbusiness #womeninSTEM #PHD #nevermindshreya #chance #choice #resilience

As an athlete, this was the lesson no one glamorizes.

 -I had to give up sleeping in.
 -I had to give up 8-hour workdays.
 -I had to give up family dinners.
 -I had to give up birthdays, beach days, and weekends.

Not because I loved suffering.
But because outcomes demand tradeoffs.

Wanting something isn’t the hard part.

Everyone wants the body, the career, the life.

The real question is simpler  and harder:
What are you willing to give up consistently?

Athletes understand this early.
Most people don’t confront it until much later.

That same mindset shows up again in immigration, leadership, and business.
Not in effort, but in what you choose not to do.

 Clarity isn’t about wanting more.
 It’s about choosing what you’re willing to release.

-
👉 Follow Shreya Kothari, MBA, for clarity frameworks and leadership storytelling.

Here is a link to my journey: https://lnkd.in/gi-NxQug

#femaleleaders #sports #immigration #southasian #indian

Honored to see my story being shared.

Immigration isn’t just paperwork.

1. It’s pressure.
2. It’s responsibility.
3. It’s the weight of expectations you carry quietly.

That’s why evidence-based paths like EB-1A matter to me,  not for prestige, but for clarity and agency. So excited for the conversation on Monday and for more founders speaking openly about this reality.

-Shreya

My parents put everything on the line when they sent me to America🇺🇸

The thing is America wasn’t just 𝘮𝘺 dream.
It was theirs first.!!

So when I didn’t get the H-1B for 3 years, my first reaction wasn’t anger.

It was fear.
Not “what will I do?”
But: “How will I tell my parents?”

Because when your family bets their savings on you…
a lottery outcome feels personal.

Recently, I came across Shreya’s story..
And for the first time in a long time, it felt… real.

EB-1A can be a game-changer for immigrants.
👉 Because it’s based on evidence, not luck.

If you’re an immigrant builder who’s tired of waiting on randomness,
join Shreya in a conversation with EB1A Experts.

📌 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eEqjZ3Pq

If you’re quietly stressed about visas, I hope this helps 💙

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