USA News Desi Founders Can Now Sponsor Own H1B? By Aishwarya Panda For years, Indian entrepreneurs in the United States have been crafting their own companies from the ground up. They’ve created jobs, secured funding, and sparked innovation across various sectors of the economy. However, there was one hurdle they couldn’t overcome — sponsoring themselves for a work visa. The H1B program has always mandated that a separate US-based employer act as the sponsor. Even if someone was the owner of the company, they still had to navigate around this requirement. Often, this meant bringing in a board member just to comply with the technicalities. It was a system that didn’t quite match reality. Also Read – US Wants to See Your Social Media First? But now, things are changing. Starting in 2025, eligible founders and business owners will have the opportunity to self-petition for an H1B visa. This means that if someone owns 100 percent of their business and meets the USCIS criteria, they can apply without needing a separate employer to back them. This update is part of the US government’s ongoing mission to modernize its immigration system. The initiative began during the Trump administration and has continued with recent policy changes. The aim is straightforward — to make it easier for foreign-born entrepreneurs to thrive in the US, not harder. This also signals a shift in how startups are perceived. Rather than viewing founders as just regular employees, the new regulations acknowledge the distinct challenges of running a business. It empowers them with more control over their future and lessens their reliance on third parties or complicated legal maneuvers. For Indian founders, this isn’t merely a policy change — it’s a form of recognition. Their contributions have always been significant, but the system often overlooked them. With this new development, the door opens a bit wider. Not by chance, but through hard-earned credibility. Also Read – Green Card Holder Scamming US? Detained at Border The real challenge now is ensuring that this pathway is genuinely accessible, not just in theory but in practice. This means establishing clear guidelines, fair processing, and tangible support for those who are building something new. The system should not only welcome talent — it should also step aside and let it flourish.
For years, Indian entrepreneurs in the United States have been crafting their own companies from the ground up. They’ve created jobs, secured funding, and sparked innovation across various sectors of the economy. However, there was one hurdle they couldn’t overcome — sponsoring themselves for a work visa. The H1B program has always mandated that a separate US-based employer act as the sponsor. Even if someone was the owner of the company, they still had to navigate around this requirement. Often, this meant bringing in a board member just to comply with the technicalities. It was a system that didn’t quite match reality. Also Read – US Wants to See Your Social Media First? But now, things are changing. Starting in 2025, eligible founders and business owners will have the opportunity to self-petition for an H1B visa. This means that if someone owns 100 percent of their business and meets the USCIS criteria, they can apply without needing a separate employer to back them. This update is part of the US government’s ongoing mission to modernize its immigration system. The initiative began during the Trump administration and has continued with recent policy changes. The aim is straightforward — to make it easier for foreign-born entrepreneurs to thrive in the US, not harder.
This also signals a shift in how startups are perceived. Rather than viewing founders as just regular employees, the new regulations acknowledge the distinct challenges of running a business. It empowers them with more control over their future and lessens their reliance on third parties or complicated legal maneuvers. For Indian founders, this isn’t merely a policy change — it’s a form of recognition. Their contributions have always been significant, but the system often overlooked them. With this new development, the door opens a bit wider. Not by chance, but through hard-earned credibility. Also Read – Green Card Holder Scamming US? Detained at Border The real challenge now is ensuring that this pathway is genuinely accessible, not just in theory but in practice. This means establishing clear guidelines, fair processing, and tangible support for those who are building something new. The system should not only welcome talent — it should also step aside and let it flourish.