Pratik Karki, a Nepal-born software engineer who left a lucrative position at Google due to repeated visa setbacks, has finally received his US green card. The San Francisco-based founder shared the news in a viral post on X, revealing that he and his wife were granted permanent residency after a long and arduous journey marked by multiple H-1B visa lottery failures.
A Long and Difficult Journey
Karki wrote: 'GOT OUR GREEN CARDS TODAY! Here's the full story, no BS, and a special thank you to my dad.' His connection to the United States dates back to his father, who worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. His father later returned to Nepal due to family circumstances, choosing to raise his children there instead of continuing his career in America.
According to Karki, that decision shaped his upbringing, as the family lived modestly in Nepal after his father left his life in the US. 'Going back to Nepal was the only way. He walked away from everything he had built in America for us. We moved to my grandparent's house in a small room in the attic,' Karki recounted.
Building a Career in Tech
Years later, Karki moved to the US and built a career in technology, eventually joining Google in a well-paid engineering role with a compensation package worth nearly $300,000 per year. However, his long-term ability to stay in the US depended on the H-1B visa lottery, a system that randomly selects applicants for work permits. Karki faced rejection four times while at Google.
'Two years ago I got rejected from the H1B lottery at Google for the fourth time,' he wrote. 'I sat with the email for a long time before I told anyone.' The repeated rejections forced him to confront the possibility of leaving the US, potentially separating from his wife and the life they had built in San Francisco.
'I was looking at having to pack everything up. Try Canada, or go back to Nepal, and live thousands of miles away from the person I love,' he added.
Leaving Google and Starting Anew
Karki decided to leave Google at age 27, giving up nearly $300,000 in annual compensation. He began exploring startup ideas in San Francisco and co-founded Anthromind with fellow founder Mannat. The company focuses on building what Karki described as 'the definitive human data layer for frontier labs and enterprise AI teams.'
During this period, he also applied for an O-1 visa, which is granted to individuals with extraordinary ability. He prepared the application himself using evidence from his career, including hackathon judging and published writing, and the petition was approved. 'The case got approved,' he wrote.
Green Card and a New Chapter
Following the O-1 visa approval, Karki and his wife eventually received their green cards, ending years of immigration uncertainty. 'Today my wife and I are both holding our green cards,' he wrote. 'Two immigrants, one company, one kitchen table conversation that changed everything.'
He dedicated the outcome to his father, saying: 'Baba, this one is for you, thanks to all your sacrifices and lessons.'
