Indian-origin founder once denied US F-1 visa recalls journey to entrepreneurial success: ‘US has been kindest to me’
Indian-Origin Entrepreneur’s Journey from Visa Rejection to U.S. Success
Indian origin founder once denied US F – A self-made entrepreneur has sparked online conversations after sharing how an early visa rejection transformed his career path. Vijay Thirumalai, now a founder of a company aiding skilled Indians in North America, recounted how his initial setback fueled his determination to thrive in the U.S. market.
The Unforeseen Setback
Thirumalai’s story began with a scholarship offer for his Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Texas, Dallas. Despite securing full funding, his F-1 visa application was denied due to insufficient financial proof from his family. “We couldn’t show enough funds in our bank account—only 1 lac, borrowed from five relatives,” he explained in a post on X.
“Got my F1 rejected coz we were not able to show enough funds in our bank account (had like 1 lac in bank balance, that too borrowed from 5 different relatives,”
“he wrote, highlighting the emotional toll of the rejection. “We were too broke to re-apply and didn’t have money to apply to other countries in Europe / Canada to diversify visa risks & we let it pass. All my friends who were far less accomplished than me went to US and were chiling out. Next 4-6 months were traumatic, thought the whole world crumbled,”
A New Beginning in the U.S.
After overcoming the visa hurdle, Thirumalai joined ADP Dealer Services as a networking engineer. Within a year, he secured a B1/B2 visa to lead a pilot team, which significantly expanded the company’s India operations. This experience laid the groundwork for his future ventures.
From Startup to Scale-Up
Thirumalai later launched a startup modeled after Palantir, partnering with the U.S. government to streamline processes for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The company reached $15 million in revenue within three years before he sold his stake. Today, he heads Goldwater, an organization dedicated to helping skilled Indians build careers in the U.S. and beyond.
“The US has been the kindest to me, my professional success has been largely on US-centred businesses,”
“he wrote, emphasizing the role U.S. opportunities played in his journey. “Sharing this because, anyone remotely ambitious + high agency has the potential to achieve 10x of what I did in US,”
Resilience and Recognition
Thirumalai’s perseverance has earned him Canadian citizenship, a UAE Golden Visa, and a pending U.S. green card through the EB-5 investor program. He also boasts an 8-figure investment portfolio, showcasing his growth from a rejected applicant to a successful entrepreneur.
Online supporters praised his resilience, with one user noting, “Incredible job, Vijay! Thanks for sharing this. Stories like yours remind people that setbacks are often just the beginning.” Another added, “Getting rejected hurt at the time, but it clearly wasn’t the end of the journey. Success rarely follows the path we plan it follows the one we keep walking despite setbacks. The first ‘no’ is often just a detour, not the destination,”
Another comment reflected on his journey, “Thank you for writing this. Makes me believe everything’s possible when you work hard and are ambitious,”
About the Author
Bhavya Sukheja is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, with over six years of experience in digital journalism. She focuses on narratives that highlight human experiences, often weaving viral stories into broader societal conversations. Known for her sharp insight into trending topics, Sukheja has a talent for transforming fleeting moments into compelling reports that resonate globally.