After 7 H-1B rejections, Microsoft techie instead gets US Green Card: Her 5 lessons she learnt after years of long wait

Getting a US Green Card is often seen as a major milestone for professionals working abroad, but the path to it is rarely smooth. Between visa lotteries, changing rules and long waiting periods, many skilled workers spend years dealing with uncertainty. A recent story shared by an Indian-origin engineer shows how unpredictable the process can be, and how persistence often ends up mattering more than quick success.

An Indian-origin software engineer at Microsoft has gone viral after opening up about her long journey to securing a US Green Card after facing seven straight rejections in the H-1B visa lottery. Her experience, shared through posts online, has struck a chord with many professionals navigating similar challenges.

Seven rejections and a growing sense of doubt

Aishani B, a senior software engineer, said she entered the H-1B lottery every year between 2019 and 2025, but was not selected even once. “I entered the H1B lottery 7 times between 2019 and 2025. I didn’t get selected. Not once,” she wrote.


She described how the impact of rejection changed over time. “The first rejection stings. The second, you rationalize. By the third, fourth, fifth, you stop telling people. Not because you’re ashamed. But because there’s nothing new to say.”

Over time, the repeated setbacks began to affect her confidence in a quieter way. “What nobody tells you about losing repeatedly: It's not one moment of disappointment. It's a slow, quiet erosion of certainty. Am I good enough to be here? Would someone else have figured this out by now? How long do I keep trying?” she shared.

Moving countries, still holding on

Instead of putting everything on hold, she continued working and building her career. In 2022, she moved to Canada to maintain continuity in her job while her employer continued filing H-1B applications. In 2023, she returned to the US on an L-1 visa.

For many professionals, the H-1B visa offers temporary work status, usually valid for three years, while a Green Card — officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, allows individuals to live and work in the United States indefinitely.

Her breakthrough finally came in 2025, but not through the route she had been trying for years. She secured her Green Card through the EB-1 category, often referred to as the “Einstein Visa,” meant for individuals with extraordinary ability.

“A path I never thought I’d qualify for, especially not after 7 rejections,” she said, adding that during those years, she did not feel extraordinary, only exhausted.

Lessons she learnt from the process

Looking back, her journey reflects a few clear lessons that came from those years of waiting and trying again.

One, she realised that rejection is not just a one-time event but something that builds slowly over time. “What nobody tells you about losing repeatedly: It's not one moment of disappointment. It's a slow, quiet erosion of certainty.”

Two, the way people deal with rejection changes as it keeps happening. “The first rejection stings. The second, you rationalize. By the third, fourth, fifth, you stop telling people. Not because you’re ashamed. But because there’s nothing new to say.”

Three, self-doubt becomes part of the process. She found herself questioning her place and decisions. “Am I good enough to be here? Would someone else have figured this out by now? How long do I keep trying?”

Four, even when results are not visible, progress does not stop. Work continues, skills grow, and life moves forward in ways that may not be obvious at the time.

And five, rejection does not always mean the end of the road, sometimes it simply points to a different path. “A quiet belief that there was a reason for this. And a stubbornness that refused to find out what quitting felt like. 7 losses didn't mean no. They meant ‘not this way.’ If you're counting your own rejections right now, the number isn't the story. What you build in between is.”

Social media reactions

Her post has since been widely shared, with many people relating to the uncertainty of visa processes. Several users responded with their own experiences of repeated attempts and long waits.

One user wrote, “When you will look back after many years, these 7 will be the best No. you ever got; in hindsight, dots always connect.” Another added, “You’re an inspiration! America needs you,” while others spoke about still trying after multiple failed attempts.

For many, her journey has become less about immigration success and more about persistence, especially in situations where outcomes are uncertain and mostly out of one’s control.