The tech entrepreneur says his journey from a small village in Karnataka to US citizenship involved financial struggles, visa uncertainty, career setbacks, and an alleged attempt to report him for immigration fraud.
A technology entrepreneur from Karnataka, Saiman Shetty, has now become a US citizen after a lengthy immigration journey that he says tested him at several stages. Shetty recently shared details of his experience on social media, describing the difficulties he faced after moving to the United States as an international student. As per his account, he arrived in the US with limited financial resources and without an established support network. In the early years, he faced education-related debt, unsuccessful job applications, and uncertainty about his immigration status.
He then studied engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University before pursuing a master’s degree at Arizona State University. He later worked with companies including Tesla and Lyft before launching his own company in 2023.
Visa challenges and the alleged deportation attempt.
A major part of Shetty’s account centres on the US immigration system. He said he lost the H-1B visa lottery and experienced delays and backlogs during his immigration process. He also alleged that individuals he described as jealous or hostile falsely reported him to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), accusing him of fraud and attempting to trigger deportation proceedings.
Shetty said the situation became one of the most difficult periods of his immigration journey. However, he ultimately remained in the country and continued through the legal immigration process. The allegations in the report are based on Shetty’s account; the report did not provide independent details about the individuals involved.
Gaining US citizenship marks a new chapter.
After receiving US citizenship, Shetty reflected on the difficulties faced by immigrants navigating American visa and residency systems. He said his experience had strengthened his interest in supporting others dealing with F-1, H-1B, O-1 and L-1 visas, as well as green-card backlogs.
His story highlights the uncertainty that can accompany the US immigration journey, particularly for international students and skilled professionals who spend years moving between education, employment and different immigration categories.
Shetty’s experience also reflects a broader reality for Indian immigrants in the US: professional success doesn’t necessarily remove the complexities associated with immigration status. For him, obtaining US citizenship marks the end of a difficult process that began with his move from Karnataka as an international student.
