Lighthouse combines smart technology with legal services from licensed O-1 visa attorneys to help you navigate the petition process with clarity and confidence.
The O-1 visa allows individuals with extraordinary ability to work in their specialized fields for U.S. employers, in Miami and the rest of the U.S. Unlike many work visas, the O-1 has no annual cap and provides an initial stay of up to three years. This pathway creates opportunities for top talent in sciences, arts, education, business, and athletics.
The visa also has dual intent, a key advantage. This feature lets you pursue permanent residence while you hold O-1 status, a path known as the green card path. This flexibility makes the O-1 a strong choice for professionals who want to build long-term careers in the United States.
You may be eligible for an O-1 visa if you meet several key requirements, including:
Demonstrate extraordinary ability by showing you are among the small percentage at the very top of your field in science, business, or the arts.
Provide evidence of a major international award, or meet at least three of eight criteria like published work, original contributions, or high compensation.
Have a U.S. employer or O‑1 visa agent sponsor your petition and get an advisory opinion from a relevant peer group or organization.
Be coming to the U.S. to continue working in your specific area of extraordinary ability, not to start a new professional endeavor.
We combine legal expertise with purpose-built technology to prepare your O-1 petition in weeks, not months. We manage every detail, from evidence compilation to USCIS submission, so you can focus on your career.
Our platform helps you explore your visa options. It walks you through each requirement and shows how to strengthen your case. Submit your information via a simple form, and we will follow up with guidance on potential paths forward.
Your petition receives a full review from experienced O-1 visa attorneys to ensure it meets strict USCIS standards. We provide support for complex issues like job changes or amendments, which minimizes the risk of delays or denials. You have access to legal expertise from start to finish.
You always know where your petition stands. Our platform shows your petition status, any outstanding requirements, and all upcoming deadlines. We provide clear timelines and explain what happens next at each stage, which reduces uncertainty and helps you plan ahead.
We support professionals in technology, engineering, and research. Our team understands the unique profiles of software engineers, data scientists, and researchers. We prepare petitions that frame their specialized skills and contributions to meet strict USCIS criteria for extraordinary ability.
"Still trying to process this — my second O-1 has been approved! Thank you everyone, truly. Shoutout to for living up to their name when I needed help the most
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"Lighthouse is insanely fast. Your new colleague might not even have finished their work trial by the time Lighthouse has already gotten them an O1 visa. Highly recommend working with them!"
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"If you also want to join the league of extraordinary aliens, you should use Lighthouse. Impressively fast, but also confidently handled with the minimum fuss and very responsive which is just so calming in an otherwise very stressful process."
“US O1A visa approved! Thanks to Lighthouse that was much faster and less effort than I expected, they just took care of everything!”
“The weight of dealing with the immigration stuff has been some of the heaviest in my life...so her calm, extreme competence and her warmth made me so cared for.”
"O-1A approved! Thanks to Minn and Lighthouse for their guidance and support throughout the whole process. Would recommend working with them for your visa needs. Blazingly fast, no fuss and very responsive!"
"It was really great working with Minn and I strongly recommend a chat with her if you need help getting a visa!"
"I am forever grateful to Minn for helping me get O1A. Having dealt with a number of visas and attorneys over the past 5 years, working with Minn was the first time I felt supported and safe! Can't recommend enough. Awesome people, incredible product."
Read our in-depth guide to the O-1 visa to navigate the process from initial eligibility to approval, including:
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To get an O-1 visa, you need to prove extraordinary ability in your field with national or international recognition. This means showing evidence like major awards, articles written about your work, a high salary, or membership in exclusive groups. Unlike other visas, a specific degree isn't required; your track record of significant achievements is what matters most.
Your employer or an O-1 visa agent files the petition for you. They must get a written advisory opinion from a relevant peer group and cover the filing fees, which can range from the base fee to more with premium processing. They also need to detail the work you will be doing.
Standard processing usually takes a few months. For a faster response, premium processing provides a decision from USCIS within 15 business days. A key benefit is that O-1 petitions don't have an annual cap or lottery, so they can be filed anytime. After approval, you'll need a few more weeks for the visa interview and stamping.
Yes, you can change employers, but it requires careful planning. Your new employer must file a completely new O-1 petition on your behalf. You cannot start the new job until this new petition is approved, so it's crucial to time the transition correctly to avoid any gaps in your legal ability to work in the U.S.
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can get O-3 visas to join you in the U.S. This status allows them to live with you and attend school. However, it's important to know that O-3 visa holders are not permitted to work. This is a key difference from some other dependent visas, like the H-4.
For your O-1 visa interview, gather your approval notice, passport, and all the evidence supporting your extraordinary ability. Be prepared to clearly explain your achievements and your specific role with the U.S. employer. The consular officer wants to understand your qualifications and plans, so practice describing your work in simple, direct terms.
Lighthouse is a documentation preparation service that helps you understand your visa options. Once you choose a path, our platform and team of legal experts help prepare your application. We map your accomplishments to USCIS criteria and connect you with an experienced O-1 visa attorney who will review your case, managing the complex paperwork for you.
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Get clear guidance on your immigration options and a legal team to manage your case from evidence compilation through USCIS submission.
We connect you with an expert immigration attorney to prepare your petition in weeks, not months. We support H-1B, O-1A, L-1, TN, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and other employment-based visa and green card pathways for professionals and employers in San Francisco and across the U.S.
Lighthouse supports all employment-based visas and select green card pathways.
Do not let immigration stall your hire timeline. We identify the best visa path for every new hire, complete petitions within weeks, and offer you total visibility on each case. We provide each hire with a dedicated case manager, a review from our attorneys, and a 24-hour response SLA. The fastest-growth teams at Notion, Ramp, Baseten, and Cognition trust us.
Begin with a free eligibility evaluation. We review your background, education, work history, and achievements to determine which visas fit your profile and outline your next steps. Your dedicated Lighthouse case manager collects documents, drafts petition letters, and confirms all materials meet USCIS standards before we submit. Your case team supports you through each step until you receive approval.
Lighthouse supports all employment-based visas and select green card pathways.
We prepare your petition in under three weeks. Our platform automates document collection, form completion, and status updates in parallel. This frees our immigration lawyers to focus on legal strategy, not paperwork.
We prepare your petition in under three weeks. Our platform automates document collection, form completion, and status updates in parallel. This frees our immigration lawyers to focus on legal strategy, not paperwork.
We prepare your petition in under three weeks. Our platform automates document collection, form completion, and status updates in parallel. This frees our immigration lawyers to focus on legal strategy, not paperwork.
We prepare your petition in under three weeks. Our platform automates document collection, form completion, and status updates in parallel. This frees our immigration lawyers to focus on legal strategy, not paperwork.
"Still trying to process this — my second O-1 has been approved! Thank you everyone, truly. Shoutout to for living up to their name when I needed help the most
"Lighthouse is insanely fast. Your new colleague might not even have finished their work trial by the time Lighthouse has already gotten them an O1 visa. Highly recommend working with them!"
"If you also want to join the league of extraordinary aliens, you should use Lighthouse. Impressively fast, but also confidently handled with the minimum fuss and very responsive which is just so calming in an otherwise very stressful process."
“US O1A visa approved! Thanks to Lighthouse that was much faster and less effort than I expected, they just took care of everything!”
“The weight of dealing with the immigration stuff has been some of the heaviest in my life...so her calm, extreme competence and her warmth made me so cared for.”
"O-1A approved! Thanks to Minn and Lighthouse for their guidance and support throughout the whole process. Would recommend working with them for your visa needs. Blazingly fast, no fuss and very responsive!"
"It was really great working with Minn and I strongly recommend a chat with her if you need help getting a visa!"
"I am forever grateful to Minn for helping me get O1A. Having dealt with a number of visas and attorneys over the past 5 years, working with Minn was the first time I felt supported and safe! Can't recommend enough. Awesome people, incredible product."
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Go deeper on visa types, eligibility, and the application process.
Join us for free, bi-monthly educational sessions on U.S. visa pathways, green cards, and immigration.
Find out which visa path is right for you and get started in minutes.
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