Getting a US Green Card After Multiple H-1B Visa Denials

Introduction

Aishani B, a senior software engineer at Microsoft, has shared her journey of moving from several failed H-1B visa lottery attempts to finally receiving a green card.

Main Body

Between 2019 and 2025, Aishani tried to get an H-1B visa, which is a temporary permit for skilled professionals. However, she was not selected in the lottery seven times in a row. She emphasized that these repeated failures caused her to lose confidence and made her doubt whether she was qualified enough to work in the United States. To overcome these legal challenges, she moved to Canada in 2022. Furthermore, she returned to the U.S. in 2023 using an L-1 visa while Microsoft continued to apply for her H-1B. This change in strategy eventually led to her receiving a green card in 2025 under the EB-1 category, which is for people with extraordinary abilities. Aishani asserted that the time spent between rejections allowed her to improve her professional skills, suggesting that personal growth is more important than the number of failures.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Aishani successfully moved from a long period of visa uncertainty to becoming a permanent resident of the United States.

Learning

The 'Bridge' to B2: Mastering Logical Connectors

At the A2 level, students usually connect ideas with simple words like and, but, or because. To reach B2, you must move toward Transition Markers. These are words that act as signposts, telling the reader exactly how the next idea relates to the previous one.

Observation from the Text: Look at how the author moves from a problem to a solution using these specific anchors:

  • "However..." \rightarrow Used to introduce a contradiction. Instead of saying "But she was not selected," using However at the start of a sentence creates a formal, academic tone.
  • "Furthermore..." \rightarrow Used to add extra information. This is a direct upgrade from using and. It signals that the writer is building a stronger argument or list of events.
  • "Ultimately..." \rightarrow Used to describe the final result after a long process. It is much more precise than saying "In the end."

The B2 Shift: From Simple to Sophisticated

A2 Level (Basic)B2 Level (Professional)
ButHowever / Nevertheless
And / AlsoFurthermore / Moreover
In the endUltimately / Consequently

Practical Application When you describe a journey or a process (like Aishani's visa struggle), don't just list events. Use these markers to show the logic of the story.

Example: "I studied hard. However, I failed the test. Furthermore, I lost my notes. Ultimately, I learned that consistency is key."

By replacing basic conjunctions with these transitions, your English transforms from "robotic listing" to "fluid storytelling."

Vocabulary Learning

permanent (adj.)
lasting for an indefinite time; not temporary
Example:After years of living abroad, she became a permanent resident of the United States.
confidence (noun)
the feeling that you can rely on someone or something; self-assurance
Example:The repeated visa denials eroded her confidence in her future prospects.
qualified (adj.)
having the necessary skills or experience to do something
Example:She was not considered qualified enough to work in the United States.
overcome (verb)
to succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty
Example:To overcome these legal challenges, she moved to Canada.
strategy (noun)
a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term goal
Example:The change in strategy eventually led to her receiving a green card.
extraordinary (adj.)
very unusual or remarkable; exceptional
Example:The EB-1 category is for people with extraordinary abilities.
asserted (verb)
to state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully
Example:Aishani asserted that the time spent between rejections allowed her to improve.
rejections (noun)
the act of refusing or refusing to accept something
Example:Her repeated rejections caused her to doubt her qualifications.
professional (adj.)
relating to a job or occupation that requires special training
Example:She is a senior software engineer, a highly skilled professional.
uncertainty (noun)
the state of being unsure or unclear about something
Example:She lived in visa uncertainty for several years before becoming a permanent resident.