u/AdvantageSpare6759

Hi All,

I am planning on doing an Agent Based O1A petition for Self. I have applied for NIW in the past and got that approved. I have also applied for EB1A in regular processing and awaiting results.

I have been on F1 and H1B Visas in the past and loved in the US for a total of 7 Years in two different lots, first 4 Years F1+H1B and Second 3 Years F1+H1B.

I have got the latest F1 Visa in 2022, valid till April 2027, and latest H1B Stamp in October 2025 and Valid till April 2028. Please note that I did not travel back to US after I got the visa in October 2025 to care for my parents, I resigned from my home country India, and ever since in India.

Currently, I am a self employed contractor doing Export of Services to US client, US client wants me there Face to Face and willing to give contract to US entity I will be founding soon.

I am well aware of the O1A criteria and will apply for 1) Scholarly Articles, 2) Judge of Others, 3) Critical Role, 4) High Salary, and 5) Media Coverage. I will also be including itinerary for my O1A that will include this contract with US entities, and open Business Development + Innovation activities, and new clients etc.

I have a clean record in the US.

The following are my questions:

1. How likely and soon be I facing issues in getting O1A consular appointment for self after approval?

2. if I do get O1A appointment at the consulate, What challenges will be I facing for approval? Would it appear that I want to circumvent the $100k fee and hence applying for O1A visa?

3. What can be the best course of action for self to secure the O1A visa for this situation?

Thanks a lot for your help and advice. If someone has been in the same boat and passed through this situation, please do advise me.

Hi all,

I am looking for advice on lean fire for myself. How can I best plan and strategize. I have made 5 Bucket Strategy as below. I am planning to fill each Bucket with 50L and let the investment grow.

Own home 3BHK in Tier 2 City, 2 tiny 2 BHKs giving 12000 rupees each month each flat. Family includes parents with nothing of their own, dependent on self 79 and 75. They have ayushman scheme so covered some of their hospital 🏥 in 5 Lac limit each.

5 Bucket Strategy 27 July 2026 - Overview

Basics : 27 Lacs INR Liquid Money plus 9.6Lacs Expected from a Consulting US Company. Will have 36L at my disposal to deploy.

1. Equity & Mutual Funds

29.98 Lacs INR

2. Fixed Instruments - FD, PPF, PF etc.

40 Lacs Bank FD, 11 Lacs Father FD,

17.8 Lacs PPF, 90k INR PF.

3. Gold, Silver and Metal Index

Approximately 28 k INR.

4. Bitcoins and Digital Assets.

NIL

5. Pension Scheme and Retirement Accounts 401k, NPS etc.

8.2 Lacs INR India

$71,000 in US 401k. Approximately 64 Lacs INR

I am planning to retire from work once I reach 50L in each Bucket and then I will withdraw from Bucket 2 and 5 regularly and fill these two buckets from the rest of the buckets as I go on in my journey and when returns are great in these high risk buckets.

Annual expenses : 20K recurring unavoidable expenses, 20k food and groceries plus 20k entertainment and discretionary expenses. So 60k a month in Tier 2 City, no EMIs at all.

Let me know what you guys think about my progress,

Hi Folks,

Quick question - I had a petition approved under H1B from May 2025 till April 2028 while I was in the USA. I left US in September 2025 and got myself a new stamp H1B on Nov 2025 which is now valid till 2028 April. However, I did not travel back to USA even after stamping due to mother falling sick. Luckily, Social Media vetting came into existing after my stamping, my appointment went smooth.

FYI - I had an H1B stamp active till April 2026 but I chose to get a new stamp before expiry of this stamp since I feared trump might make it difficult to travel. Hindsight - great decision.

I have no adverse record in the US be it traffic violations or police bullshit.

Fast-forward - I now work as a contractor with another company in US while I am in India (C2C-Export under LUT basis), that is willing to sponsor my H1B and get me back in the USA.

Questions :

1. I know my H1B will be consular processing but will my employer required to pay 100k fee?

2. Would you guys suggest for me to get O1A route? I might have to face consulate again and risk loosing petition money. FYI - Got NIW approved on my own - Solid profile.

Please share your thoughts.

Hi All,

I would like you guys to evaluate my FIRE Journey and give me advice if I am doing good or should I do anything more.

Current Scenario - 37 M, Divorced/Happily Single, No Kids, Engineer by Profession, Spent close to 7 Years in the US in two different stints, in India now.

FDs - 40L - Drawing Monthly Interest and Investing in Equity/MFs

MFs India - 28.4 L Invested In Feb 2026, Currently at 29.5L

PPF - 17.8L and NPS - 8.2 L

First Owned Home 3 BHK - 50 L in Tier 2 City, No EMI

Second Owned Home 2 BHK - 24L, Recently Bought as Metro Station is coming next to this Building in a Few Years, Gives 11K INR Monthly Interest.

Parents Home - 2 BHK Worth 20L in the Same City, Drawing 10K INR Monthly Interest.

Miscellaneous / Savings - Close to 7 L

401k USA - $70,000.

I learnt investing really late in my life, had no prior corporate journey guidance, neither educated parents background, and mostly wasted 3 Yrs in 29-32 in a Bad Marriage.

Goals - Retire with 4 Lacs Autopilot Income in INR AND $7000-$10,000 in the USA.

I have my green card petition approved but waiting for a visa number.

Current Occupation 1 : Full time employment with an Italian Company in India - 32 Lacs/Annum.

Current Occupation 2 : Part Time Consulting Role with an USA company, Paying $110 per hour. I typically bill 16-25 Hours/Week, drawing $7000-$11000 a month.

Never invested in Bitcoins - Now I am thinking of going into this with a 10-15 Yrs Horizon.

I will most likely use my green card visa to create LLCs in the US and work as a Consulting Companies using Corp-to-Corp arrangements for global consultants and pocketing $20-$50/Hour for managing their contract work. Simple, No Risk, No Investment Business.

I will live in three different countries 1) USA, 2) India, and 3) Philippines / Thailand