Still on H-1B? Why Tech Workers Are Jumping to EB-1A in 2026

​Still on H-1B? Why Tech Workers Are Jumping to EB-1A in 2026

​The H-1B path is getting slower, costlier, and increasingly reliant on wage-based selection, employer dependency, and EB-2/EB-3 backlogs that can stretch for a decade or more for India- and China-born applicants.

​There's another route a lot of tech professionals don't realize they may already qualify for: the EB-1A the "extraordinary ability" green card. It's self-petitioned (no employer sponsor), needs no labor certification and no job offer, and for many candidates it moves faster than EB-2/EB-3 even with the country backlogs.

​In this free 1-hour session, Saiman Shetty founder of Smart Immigrant and an EB-1A recipient himself breaks down what actually matters in 2026.

​What you'll learn:

• ​Why tech workers are moving from H-1B to EB-1A right now

• ​What "extraordinary ability" really means (and the myth that it's only for celebrities and Nobel winners)

• ​How EB-1A compares to EB-2/EB-3 on timelines even with the India/China backlog

• ​The most common reason strong profiles get denied and how to avoid it

• ​How to honestly assess whether you have a case worth building

​Who it's for: Tech professionals, founders, researchers, and high-skilled workers on H-1B, F-1/OPT, or weighing their long-term options in the US.

​Your host: Saiman Shetty - Founder of Smart Immigrant. Born in India, and went through the EB-1A process himself. He now helps immigrants navigate the pathways most people don't know they qualify for.

​Date: Friday, June 19, 2026 Time: 4:00 PM PST Where: Online (link sent on registration)

​Seats are limited. Register now bring your questions for the live Q&A.