Indian Innovator Revolutionizes U.S. Visa Process with AI Startup
In a remarkable endeavor to streamline the notoriously convoluted U.S. visa system, Priyanka Kulkarni, a 34-year-old machine learning expert from India, has pioneered an innovative solution.
Having navigated a visa for nearly a decade during her tenure at Microsoft, Kulkarni’s lived experience inspires her to leverage artificial intelligence for the benefit of others seeking employment-based immigration.
A former Microsoft engineer from India created an AI platform that sped up US visa processing.
A recent report by Business Insider indicates that her startup, Casium, offers a digital portal that enables employers to oversee visa cases comprehensively, thereby supplanting antiquated Excel spreadsheets and diminishing reliance on costly legal advisors.
The platform has been tailored to accommodate the volatile policy landscape, particularly following a contentious executive order from the Trump administration imposing a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications.
This directive left businesses reeling and incited numerous lawsuits from corporate groups and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
A Tech-Driven Panacea for an Outdated System
Casium is poised to furnish a technological overhaul that enhances speed, precision, and transparency in the traditionally sluggish immigration framework.
According to Business Insider, the startup has already facilitated hundreds of applicants with a spectrum of services, including assessments, compliance reviews, and filings, all while boasting a commendable approval rate.
Some users have reportedly transitioned from application to employment within a mere month.
Established in 2024, Casium recently secured $5 million in seed funding, spearheaded by Maverick Ventures, with contributions from AI2 Incubator, GTMfund, Success Venture Partners, and angel investor Jake Heller, who previously saw his company, Casetext, acquired by Thomson Reuters in 2023.
Operational Mechanism of the Platform
The application process initiates with candidates completing an intake form. Kulkarni elucidates that Casium’s software deploys “agents” to diligently scrutinize public data repositories, such as research papers and patents, in order to construct a comprehensive profile for each applicant.
Within minutes, the platform generates a detailed dossier reviewed by independent lawyers and paralegals who suggest the most suitable visa options, including H-1B, O-1, or EB-1A.
A single click can yield a draft of an attorney letter delineating eligibility, significantly expediting the document preparation process from several months to fewer than ten business days, while concurrently minimizing errors that could impede approvals.
From Microsoft Scientist to Startup Trailblazer
Hailing from India, Kulkarni embarked on her career at Microsoft immediately after college, dedicating nearly a decade to formulating AI strategies for products such as Office, all while under the constraints of an H-1B visa.
“Honestly, it was exhausting, confusing, and at times could feel very career-limiting,” she confided to Business Insider.
Her own trials and tribulations motivated her to establish Casium. Upon being admitted to Seattle’s AI2 Incubator in 2024, she pursued the EB-1 visa, often referred to as the Einstein visa, due to its exclusivity for individuals possessing extraordinary abilities.
Reflecting on her transformative journey, she remarked, “Everything I’ve done has culminated to this point.
Source link: Hindustantimes.com.
