The O-1A nonimmigrant visa is an uncapped 3-year employment based visa category designed for individuals who have demonstrated expertise in their field.
Our mission at Lighthouse is to democratize access to high-skilled immigration. Our team will work with you to map your accomplishments to the USCIS criteria to ensure a clear understanding of how to prepare a strong case for your application.
To be eligible for an O-1A visa, you need to meet at least 3 out of the 8 criteria outlined by the USCIS. The O-1A cannot be self-sponsored and requires an employer sponsoring organization.
This visa allows you to showcase your professional or academic achievements, and it is often a great option for talented individuals with entrepreneurial ambitions to start or join a U.S. company. Applicants can come from a variety of industries and fields of expertise — we've supported individuals with professional or academic achievements in technology entrepreneurship, machine learning research, biotechnology, or software engineering.
Demonstrate your expertise through authorship of scholarly articles in professional journals or major media publications.
Show recognition of your excellence by providing evidence of receiving nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards.
Evidence of commanding a high salary or total compensation in a previous, current, or future role. Benchmarks included are typically by role, region, or industry.
Highlight a new or significant scientific, scholarly, or business-related contribution you've made which has had significant impact in the field. This may be a product, invention, patent, technology, or more.
Participation as a judge of the work of others in your field, showcasing your recognized expertise.
Membership in associations that require outstanding achievements, recognized by national or international experts in your discipline.
Show that you held an integral role at a reputable organization, demonstrated by your contributions to the organization.
Published material about you in professional or major trade publications, highlighting your work and contributions.
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