In the vast and often perplexing
landscape of U.S. ambition, where dreams frequently collide with the daunting
realities of bureaucracy, Saiman Shetty, stands out. What truly drives this
visionary immigrant entrepreneur? It’s a powerful blend of personal experience,
deep empathy and a profound belief in empowering others to unlock their full
potential. For Shetty, success isn’t just about achieving goals; it’s about
building enduring trust and fostering a supportive community.
“My journey wasn’t just about
building a career; it was about securing the freedom to build a life,”
Shetty reflects. This simple yet profound statement anchors his entire mission,
resonating deeply with countless high-skilled professionals navigating the
complex path to opportunity in the U.S.
From
Engineering Curiosity to a Defining Moment
Even as a child in Udupi, Karnataka, Saiman Shetty was pulling apart gadgets. “I always needed to
know how things worked, and more importantly, how to make them work
better,” he recalls. This curiosity eventually led him to a Master’s in
electrical engineering from Arizona State University and then straight into
Silicon Valley.
His engineering skills quickly
propelled him into important roles at tech giants like Tesla, Lyft’s autonomous
vehicle division, and Nuro. “I’ve always been drawn to pushing boundaries,
whether in building machines or shaping systems,” Shetty shares. In these
environments, he played key parts in shaping safety systems for self-driving
tech, work that inherently involves critical considerations around AI ethics
and responsible development.
But then came a harsh reality:
immigration status. “Imagine dedicating years to your education and
career, only to be told your dreams are on hold because of where you were
born,” Saiman explains. He vividly recalls being passed over for a role at
SpaceX, purely due to his status. “It was a stark realization. Not because
of my skills, but simply because of my immigration status. It felt like hitting
an invisible wall.”
Then came the moment that
crystallized his purpose: the agonizing H-1B Visa lottery. Despite his
flourishing career in Silicon Valley, his application wasn’t selected.
“All that hard work, everything I had built, it felt like it could vanish
in an instant,” he recalls, his voice still holding the weight of that
memory. “To think that a random lottery could decide my future…it was
incredibly frustrating. ‘Is this truly fair?’, I kept asking myself.”
A New
Blueprint: Care as a Business Model
This personal crisis became his
turning point. Instead of despairing, he channeled that uncertainty into
action. “I knew I couldn’t just give up,” Shetty explains. “That
frustration ignited a new purpose in me. I dove deep, researched every
alternative, and found paths like the O-1 and EB-1A. It was
incredibly challenging, but I was determined to find a way to stay and build.”
His persistence paid off, granting him the critical freedom to work and grow
without employer ties.
“That one decision gave me
freedom, stability, and a mission,” Shetty states. “I realized: no
one should have to go through this alone. My experience taught me the true
value of guidance and support.” This profound insight laid the groundwork
for Smart Green Card.
As a dedicated startup founder,
Shetty built Smart Green Card not merely as a business, but as a commitment to
assisting fellow humans in achieving their goals. He challenges the
conventional, often transactional, approach of the industry. But how do you
transform a bureaucratic headache into a pathway of empowerment, driven by
genuine care?
“I wanted to create something
different with the Smart green card,” Shetty says. “Something that
treated people not just as applications, but as individuals with incredible
potential. We wanted to be a partner, not just a service provider.” He
adds, “We didn’t start with a playbook. We started with a promise: that
every single person who came to us would be treated not as a transaction but as
a life in motion. That’s why our work speaks for itself.”
Building
a Community, Not Just a Company
One of the foundational strengths of
this firm lies in its unique support structure, designed to reflect Shetty’s
belief in personalized guidance. “I wanted a team that didn’t just
understand the law, but understood the journey,” Shetty tells us.
“Many of us have been there. We know the anxiety, the hope. That shared
experience lets us connect on a much deeper level.”
He handpicked a 50+ member team who could truly relate to
the immigrant story, understanding the nuances and emotional toll first-hand.
This empathetic team has already helped over 150 individuals secure their
permanent residency.
This deeply empathetic core team
collaborates closely with a trusted network of law firms and a diverse group of
attorneys who are experts in their work, providing comprehensive guidance.
“We work closely with a network
of top attorneys,” he adds. “It’s a true collaboration where our
human-first approach meets their legal expertise.” This multi-pronged
strategy provides not just structured support for complex visa processes but
also a crucial human element, aiming to demystify the process and remove much
of the uncertainty.
Through this dedicated support,
“our skilled individuals become a part of a wider community,” Shetty
notes. “They’ve experienced the challenges, and they’ve seen the care we
put in. So, they often guide others our way, not because we asked, but because
they know it will genuinely help someone else on their path. How do you measure
success beyond numbers? It’s when someone refers to a friend, that’s the
ultimate validation of the hope and trust we’ve built.”
Saiman Shetty’s personal journey has
instilled in him a strong conviction that every skilled immigrant merits the
freedom and stability he eventually attained. As he puts it, this means
“Securing control over your future, the ability to make decisions without fear
of a visa denial or a lottery miss.”
“Ultimately,” he
concludes, “it’s not just about a visa; it’s about having the power to
shape your life, your way, without fear. That’s the real dream.”
