Lighthouse combines smart technology with legal services provided by licensed, independent O-1 visa attorneys to help you navigate the O-1 visa process with clarity and confidence.
The O-1 visa allows professionals with extraordinary ability to work in their specialized fields across the United States. Unlike many work visas, it has no annual cap. Employers in New York and the rest of the U.S. sponsor top talent in science, arts, education, business, and athletics for an initial three years, with unlimited one-year extensions available.
A significant advantage is the visa’s dual intent. This feature allows you to pursue permanent residence while you hold O-1 status, a process often called the O-1 visa to green card pathway. This flexibility makes the O-1 a strong option for exceptional professionals who plan long-term careers in America.
You may be eligible for an O-1 visa if you meet several key requirements, including the following criteria:
Demonstrate extraordinary ability by showing you are among the small percentage who have risen to the very top of your field.
Provide evidence of a major internationally recognized award, or meet at least three of eight other criteria like published work or original contributions.
Have a U.S. employer or O‑1 visa agent who will sponsor your petition and get an advisory opinion from a peer group.
Be coming to the U.S. with the express purpose of continuing to work in your specific area of extraordinary ability.
Lighthouse combines legal expertise with our platform to prepare your O-1 petition in weeks, not months. We handle every detail—from evidence compilation to USCIS submission—so you can focus on your career while we build your case.
Our platform helps you explore potential visa paths. It walks you through each requirement, explains what you need, and shows how to strengthen your case. Submit your information, and we will follow up with advice on the best way forward.
Your petition receives a thorough review from experienced O-1 visa attorneys to ensure it meets strict USCIS standards. They provide guidance on complex issues like job changes or amendments, which minimizes the risk of delays or RFEs. You have access to legal expertise from start to finish.
You always know your petition's status. Our platform shows the exact requirements, how your case develops, and all deadlines. Clear timelines and proactive updates remove surprises, so you can plan your future with confidence.
We support professionals in technology, engineering, and research. Our team understands the unique profiles of software engineers, data scientists, and researchers, and knows how to present complex technical achievements to meet the O-1 visa standards 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 resource to understand the full O-1 visa process, from eligibility to final approval, including:
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To qualify, you must show extraordinary ability through sustained acclaim in your field. This means providing evidence like major awards, articles published about your work, a high salary, or membership in exclusive organizations. Unlike other visas, there isn't a strict degree requirement; the focus is entirely on your professional accomplishments and significant contributions.
Your employer or an O‑1 visa agent files the petition and gets a written advisory opinion from a relevant peer group. They are responsible for the filing fees, which can range from the base fee to several thousand dollars with premium processing. They also must provide a detailed outline of your proposed work.
Standard processing for an O-1 petition typically takes two to four months for an approval. If you choose premium processing, you can expect a decision within 15 business days. Since there's no lottery or annual cap, you can file anytime. After approval, allow for a few more weeks for the consular interview and visa stamping.
To change jobs, your new employer must file a brand-new O-1 petition on your behalf. You cannot start the new role until this petition is approved, which is different from H-1B portability rules. This process requires submitting updated evidence of your extraordinary ability and getting a new advisory opinion from a peer group.
Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can get O-3 visas to accompany you. This status allows them to live in the U.S. 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, you'll need your passport, approval notice, and DS-160 confirmation page. Be prepared to discuss your achievements and your role with the petitioning employer in simple terms. The consular officer wants to understand your work and confirm that your accomplishments meet the criteria for extraordinary ability.
Lighthouse is a platform that helps you prepare your visa documentation. We first help you understand the best visa pathway for your profile. Then, we help prepare your application and pair you with an experienced O-1 visa attorney to review your case, mapping your achievements directly to USCIS criteria to build the strongest petition possible.
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Our platform gives you clarity on your immigration options and a dedicated legal team to carry your case from evidence preparation 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.
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Find out which visa path is right for you and get started in minutes.
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