Ablay Sarmantay, an immigrant entrepreneur from Kazakhstan, recently shared his journey of applying for the EB-1A visa despite facing significant challenges. With 4.5 years of experience and a lack of a PhD or Master’s degree, he was just six months short of the five-year requirement for the National Interest Waiver (NIW). Additionally, he faced a backlog of 1.5 to 2 years to enter the NIW line.
After considering his options, Sarmantay opted for the EB-1A visa, which is designed for individuals with extraordinary ability. At the time, he was running a coding bootcamp in Kazakhstan, generating $500,000 in revenue with around ten employees. Feeling overshadowed by Silicon Valley founders, he hesitated to apply but ultimately reviewed the legal criteria and decided to move forward.
He expressed interest in sharing the structure of his approved EB-1A petition, inviting others to comment if they would like to see it. The first part of his series is set to drop on Wednesday.
Key Details:
- Applicant: Ablay Sarmantay, entrepreneur from Kazakhstan
- Experience: 4.5 years, lacking the 5-year requirement for NIW
- EB-1A visa chosen due to challenges with NIW
- Revenue from coding bootcamp: $500,000 with ~10 employees
This story highlights the potential pathways for immigrants facing barriers in the U.S. immigration system. Need help with your immigration case? Visit QuickFiling.us for professional immigration services.
Source: Ablay Sarmantay