Varun Thirtha
“That honesty gave me lots of confidence.”
Role
Senior AI Strategist
Visa
O-1A
Hometown
India
01 The challenge
What was at stake for you?
I had opportunities for exciting roles at a couple of companies, and I knew my background put me in a strong position for an extraordinary ability visa. But building the right petition strategy, navigating the timeline, and moving quickly enough for a high-priority role were critical. I needed a legal team that combined expertise, responsiveness, and a personal touch while keeping both the company and me informed.
02 Why Global Citizens
Why did you choose Global Citizens?
A friend who had worked with Global Citizens recommended them, but my conversations with Jomana, Konark, and the team convinced me. They took time to understand my accomplishments and built a comprehensive strategy around my profile. Their attention to detail, clear communication, and transparency around timelines stood out. They gave us a clear plan and delivered on it.
03 The turning point
When did you know you were in good hands?
Right at the beginning, when we were deciding on the petition strategy. The team explained how my accomplishments mapped to immigration criteria. They were honest about my strengths and which approaches they didn't recommend. They didn't just tell me what I wanted to hear. Their transparency and reasoning gave me confidence that we were pursuing the right strategy.
“That level of attention, ownership, and unconditional support was incredible.”
— Varun Thirtha
04 The outcome
What changed after working with Global Citizens?
Their support didn't end with the petition. During consular processing, my case went through additional administrative processing under 221(g). Even though this was beyond our original engagement, the team proactively followed up, explained what to expect, and guided us through the next steps. Their combination of personalized support, speed, and attention to detail made a complex process much less stressful.
