Immigrant Shares EB-1A Success Story Despite Challenges

Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

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.

Founders on US Immigration, Explained Daily

Immigrant Shares EB-1A Success Story Despite Challenges