SEATTLE, WA (TIP): After a decade of working at Microsoft, Priyanka Kulkarni was offered a spot at the AI2 incubator in Seattle to explore her entrepreneurial drive. Before she could dive into the new phase of her career, visa issues hindered her. Kulkarni was working in the U.S. first on an L-1 temporary work visa and then transitioned to a H1-B visa for workers in specialty occupations.
To join the AI2 foster and eventually launch her company, Kulkarni required an immigrant status that was more permanent – applying for an EB-1 visa, also known as the “Einstein visa,” took more than three months with the assistance of a law firm.
Although painstaking, EB-1, which is granted to foreign nationals with extraordinary abilities, was a step towards becoming a resident in the United States. This problem became the premise for Kulkarni’s startup, Casium.
“As someone who spends so much time building foundational AI, there’s 100% an opportunity for us to truly transform this whole industry,” Kulkarni told GeekWire. “I really want to fix this. I want to change this.”
A portmanteau of the words “case” and “premium,” Casium promises an “unparalleled immigration experience” for visa filings and legal advice. Using AI, the immigration startup gathers information for an application and prepares the required paperwork. The AI tool works alongside attorneys who guide the processes and help represent the visa applicants.
The goal for Casium is to reduce the timeframe of visa applications from months to days.
“What we’re doing is beyond just a digitization of forms,” Kulkarni said, adding that Casium aims to provide high quality service for those in pursuit of their immigration cases.
There are other startups working to better the legal immigration experience such as Boundless Immigration which is one of the largest consumer-focused family immigration companies and provides business-related visa services in Seattle. Casium plans to stand out with its proprietary AI software, handling intricate and challenging cases. The immigration startup receives support from AI2 incubator and has not raised any outside capital yet.
With the upcoming presidential election, immigration can be a tricky area for starting a business. During his presidency, former President Donal Trump took a firm stance against illegal immigration while also implementing measures that reduced legal immigration. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris has emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms to improve the U.S. immigration system.
Kulkarni stressed that immigration for skilled workers and family members should keep growing regardless of the country’s leadership and economy. “The American Dream is really strong,” Kulkarni said, “and I love being a part of this whole process.”