Priyanka Kulkarni, a former Machine Learning Scientist at Microsoft, has turned her personal struggle with the U.S. immigration system into innovation. She is the founder of Casium, an AI-powered platform designed to simplify and accelerate the U.S. employment-based visa process.
The Inspiration Behind Casium
After living in the U.S. for nine years on various work visas, Priyanka experienced firsthand the frustration, confusion, and delays that applicants face. That experience inspired her mission — “to bring speed and transparency to an otherwise tangled process.”
What Is Casium?
Casium is an AI-driven immigration management platform that allows employers to handle visa applications entirely online. It replaces outdated spreadsheets, endless emails, and law firm back-and-forth with a streamlined digital process.
The system automates every stage — from Assessment and Compliance Review to Filing — making it faster, smarter, and more reliable.
Its standout feature, AI Error Detection, identifies documentation mistakes automatically, reducing costly human errors.
Casium has already assisted hundreds of applicants with a high approval rate and continues to refine the process with machine learning.
How Much Time Does Casium Save?
Traditional visa filings can take 3–6 months, but Casium’s automation reduces that to just 10 business days.
The company offers a free initial assessment and charges a flat fee depending on visa type. Casium is also developing a subscription-based model to help businesses manage multiple cases efficiently.
How Does Casium Work?
Casium is built to handle the unpredictability of U.S. immigration laws.
For example, during the Trump administration’s proposal to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications, a platform like Casium could have helped employers adapt instantly.
By combining AI and data analytics, Casium manages visa complexities in real time, providing actionable insights and error-free filing for both employers and applicants.
Who Is Priyanka Kulkarni?
Born and raised in India, Priyanka earned her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Mumbai, followed by a Master’s in Applied Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University.
She later joined Microsoft under an H-1B visa, where she spent nearly a decade working on machine learning, AI systems, and enterprise data strategy.
The Turning Point
While working at Microsoft, Priyanka grew increasingly aware of how rigid and time-consuming the U.S. visa system was. “The process can be so tangled that it often stalls career growth,” she shared.
During her time with the AI2 Incubator in Seattle (2024), she applied for an EB-1 visa — commonly known as the “Einstein Visa.” The three-month ordeal of dealing with multiple law firms convinced her that the immigration process was overdue for disruption.
How Casium Was Born
On her first day at the incubator, when asked what she wanted to build, Priyanka’s response was immediate and powerful:
“I WANT TO BUILD IMMIGRATION TECHNOLOGY.”
That declaration marked the birth of Casium.
Priyanka believes AI shouldn’t just generate text or images — it should solve real human problems, like simplifying immigration for millions of skilled professionals.
Casium’s Impact and Future Vision
Casium’s long-term mission extends beyond U.S. borders. The startup plans to expand its technology to global work visa and immigration systems, bringing efficiency and transparency worldwide.
Next, Casium aims to use AI insights to analyze visa rejection patterns and predict potential issues, partnering with consultancies and government agencies to modernize immigration workflows.
Conclusion
Priyanka Kulkarni’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and empathy — transforming personal struggle into a powerful solution for millions.
Through Casium, she’s redefining how technology can simplify one of the world’s most complex bureaucratic systems.
Casium isn’t just a product — it’s a movement toward smarter, fairer, and faster global mobility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is a startup?
A startup is a new business built around an innovative idea that addresses a problem, often using technology. - What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
AI enables computers to learn, reason, and perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. - Who qualifies for an H-1B visa?
Professionals with specialized skills hired by U.S. companies in fields like engineering, science, and technology. - What is an EB-1 visa?
Also known as the “Einstein Visa,” it’s for individuals with extraordinary abilities or accomplishments in their field. - What is an incubator?
A startup incubator provides mentorship, funding, and resources to help early-stage companies grow successfully.
