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O-1 visa criteria for O-1A and O-1B, sponsors versus agents, filing strategy, the grace period after job loss, and comparisons with L-1, E-2, H-1B and EB-1A.
16 articles tagged O-1 Visa
Founders need only 3 of 8 USCIS criteria and the Kazarian test to win O-1A. See a real 45-page RFE response covering role, salary, and original contribution.
O-1 visa for talented professionals: requirements, 94% approval rate, application without sponsorship, and two filing options.
The new Public Charge rule has minimal impact on O-1, EB-1A, and EB-2 visas. Breaking down US immigration changes: the DV-2027 lottery, second interviews, and evaluation criteria.
Comparing US and European salaries and taxes. Three talent visas to relocate: O-1, EB-1A, EB-1B with 97% approval. How a European specialist gets a green card.
H-1B fees may jump to $13,000 and the 60-day grace period after layoff could end. We break down why holders are leaving and the O-1 visa alternative.
E-2, H-1B, L-1, O-1, F-1 STEM OPT: ownership thresholds, W-2 payroll rules, and working for multiple entities on one visa. Common corporate-document mistakes explained.
The O-1 is a nonimmigrant US visa for people with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics (O-1A) or in the arts, film and television (O-1B). A US employer or a US agent files Form I-129 with USCIS, and the petition normally includes an advisory opinion from a peer group or labor organization. Applicants cannot petition for themselves.
Eligibility rests on sustained acclaim: a major international award, or evidence meeting at least three of eight O-1A criteria, such as published material about the applicant, judging the work of others, original contributions or a high salary. O-1B uses a separate set of six criteria focused on distinction in the field, such as lead roles, critical reviews and commercial success. Unlike H-1B, the O-1 has no annual cap or lottery, and an approved petition is followed by a DS-160 and a consular interview for applicants outside the US.
The O-1 is often confused with EB-1A, which relies on similar evidence but is an immigrant petition on Form I-140 that leads to a green card and allows self-petitioning. Many professionals build an O-1 record as a stepping stone toward EB-1A, while O-2 status covers essential support staff and O-3 covers spouses and children.