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An Indian engineer at Microsoft shares the journey of having 7 H-1B applications rejected before getting a US green card via EB1, sparking an online debate on immigration and patience struggles
An Indian-origin tech expert at Microsoft shared how multiple failed attempts to obtain a work visa in the US tested her resilience (Image-AI)
An Indian-origin software engineer at Microsoft has gone viral after opening up about her years-long struggle with repeated visa rejections, detailing how perseverance and an unexpected path eventually helped her secure permanent residency in the US.
In a post on X, Aishani B revealed that she entered the highly competitive H-1B visa lottery seven times between 2019 and 2025, without being selected once.
Her candid thinking has struck a chord with many professionals facing similar immigration challenges. “I entered the H1B lottery 7 times between 2019 and 2025. I was not selected. Not once,” she wrote.
Describing the emotional impact of repeated rejection, Aishani explained how each attempt was different. “The first rejection hurts. The second, you have to justify it. And by the third, fourth, fifth – you stop telling people.
Not because you are ashamed. But because there is nothing new to say. Her words highlighted not only disappointment but the gradual erosion of confidence that often accompanies repeated setbacks.
The H-1B visa program allows foreign professionals to work in specialized fields in the United States for a limited period, usually three years. In contrast, a green card, officially known as a permanent resident card, gives individuals the right to live and work in the country indefinitely.
Despite the repeated setbacks she faced, Aishani continued to follow alternative paths. She moved to Canada in 2022 to keep her career going and later returned to the United States in 2023 on an L1 visa. Meanwhile, her employer continued to support her applications.
Its launch came in 2025, not through the H-1B track, but through the EB1 category, the green card track typically reserved for individuals with extraordinary abilities or accomplishments. Reflecting on this unexpected turn, she noted that it was a path she never imagined qualifying for, especially after facing rejection so many times.
Aishani stressed that her journey was not defined by a single moment of failure, but rather by continuous resilience. She wrote about the quiet determination that kept her going, adding that it was perseverance, not instant success, that ultimately shaped her path.
Her posts quickly gained significant attention, attracting responses from users who reacted to her experience or shared their own.
“When you look back after so many years these seven will be the best you’ve ever had, in hindsight don’t always connect,” one user said.
Another said: “I applied for h1b 10 times. I never won the lottery.”
“You are an inspiration! America needs you! 🇺🇸🦅” said a third user.
“I’m still holding on to that annual hope – attempt number 5!” said a fourth user.
Aishani concluded her post with a message of encouragement to others who face repeated setbacks, noting that rejection does not necessarily indicate the end of the road, but may instead indicate a different path.
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