Transforming Immigration Through Artificial Intelligence
Former Microsoft machine learning scientist Priyanka Kulkarni is channeling her personal visa struggles into building Casium, an AI-driven platform that’s reimagining how companies navigate the complex U.S. work visa system. The startup recently secured $5 million in seed funding led by Maverick Ventures, with participation from Ai2 Incubator, GTMfund, Success Venture Partners, and angel investor Jake Heller, whose legal tech startup Casetext was acquired by Thomson Reuters in 2023.
Kulkarni’s nine-year journey through the American immigration system inspired her to create a solution that addresses the frustrating delays and confusion that characterize traditional visa processing. “Honestly, it was exhausting, confusing, and at times can feel very career-limiting,” Kulkarni recalls of her own experience navigating the system on an H-1B visa.
How Casium’s Technology Streamlines Visa Processing
Casium replaces the traditional combination of Excel spreadsheets and external law firms with an end-to-end portal that leverages autonomous AI agents to accelerate and simplify the entire process. When a candidate completes an intake form, these software agents immediately begin scouring public data sources including scholarly journals and patents to build a comprehensive profile.
Within minutes, the system generates a detailed dossier and recommends the most appropriate visa type—commonly H-1B, O-1, or EB-1A. The platform then routes the case to one of Casium’s contracted independent lawyers or paralegals, who can generate draft attorney letters with a single click.
The technology dramatically reduces processing times from the traditional three to six months to under 10 business days, while also improving accuracy and catching potential errors that could derail applications. This efficiency comes at a critical time as companies face increasing scrutiny around their technology infrastructure and compliance processes.
Addressing a Rapidly Changing Immigration Landscape
Casium enters the market during a period of significant immigration policy shifts, including the Trump administration’s surprise executive order requiring companies to pay $100,000 for each new H-1B application. This move has sent employers scrambling for more efficient solutions while sparking lawsuits from business groups and the US Chamber of Commerce.
The platform’s timing aligns with broader industry developments in AI adoption across regulated sectors. Kulkarni argues that immigration represents “the last, high-stakes workflow to be digitized,” noting that startups already manage significant portions of the HR technology stack from recruitment to payroll.
Competitive Landscape and Market Position
Casium operates in a growing sector of legal tech startups applying technology to immigration challenges. The company faces competition from Manifest Law, Plymouth, and Boundless—the latter having raised over $50 million to date. Other players include Parley, which sells drafting tools to immigration law firms, and OpenLaw, building a marketplace connecting clients with immigration attorneys.
This expansion of AI in legal services mirrors related innovations in other high-stakes industries where accuracy and compliance are paramount. The company’s approach also comes as organizations across sectors face increasing challenges with data security and regulatory compliance.
Business Model and Traction
Casium offers initial assessments free of charge, with flat fees for filings based on visa type and case complexity. The company is developing a subscription model to provide employers with ongoing support options. While Casium declined to specify exact pricing or its current valuation, the startup claims an “exceptionally high approval rate” and has already assisted hundreds of candidates through assessments, compliance reviews, and actual filings.
In several cases, founders using Casium have moved from initial intake to job start in under a month—a remarkable acceleration compared to traditional processes. This efficiency is particularly valuable in today’s competitive talent market, where delays can mean losing qualified candidates to other opportunities or facing operational disruptions similar to those affecting other technology-dependent industries.
Founder’s Journey from Microsoft to Entrepreneurship
Kulkarni’s background includes nearly a decade as a machine learning scientist at Microsoft, where she helped shape AI strategy for enterprise products like Office. Her direct experience with the limitations of the H-1B visa—which is awarded by lottery and ties workers to specific employers—fueled her determination to build a better solution.
When the Ai2 Incubator in Seattle offered her a spot in its 2024 cohort, Kulkarni applied for an EB-1 “Einstein visa” for foreign nationals with extraordinary abilities. The three-month paperwork process with a traditional law firm only reinforced her conviction that the system needed technological intervention.
Her vision for Casium represents the convergence of her personal experiences and professional expertise. “Everything I’ve done,” she said, “has culminated to this point.” The platform’s development also reflects broader market trends toward specialized AI solutions for complex regulatory environments.
The Future of Immigration Technology
As venture capital continues flowing into legal technology, Casium’s success will depend on convincing employers to trust its automated systems over traditional law firms with established track records. The company’s bet is that the combination of speed, transparency, and accuracy will ultimately prevail in a system known for its complexity and delays.
With the AI-powered platform already demonstrating significant time savings and high approval rates, Casium represents a compelling new approach to one of the most challenging aspects of international hiring. As immigration policies continue evolving, technology-driven solutions like Casium may become increasingly essential for companies seeking to navigate the complexities of global talent acquisition while maintaining compliance with changing regulations.
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Note: Featured image is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent any specific product, service, or entity mentioned in this article.
