No H-1B Lottery
Unlimited Extensions
Work in the U.S. without the H-1B lottery. Sponsor your O-1 visa with your own U.S. LLC or U.S. employer sponsor.
* Not legal advice. If you need help understanding the visa process, we recommend talking to an immigration attorney. ** Requires U.S. entity sponsor. We can set it up for you.
WHY THE O-1
The O-1 is a U.S. work visa with unlimited extensions for people with extraordinary ability, with no lottery and no degree requirement.
Fits founders, executives, engineers, and artists who have reached the top of their field.
98% approval rate with Beyond Border.
Extraordinary ability is demonstrated through evidence, not credentials.
You apply when your profile is ready, not when a government window opens.
Unlike the E-2 visa, the O-1 needs no investment.
The O-1 builds the evidence base for permanent residency via the EB-1A route.
98%
We pre-vet our attorneys who specialise in O-1 visas, so you do not waste months finding a good one.
4,000+
We see more O-1 cases than any other generalist firms given our focus. *last 12 months
1 Month
Apply with speed, backed by our refund guarantee. *After document collection is complete
OUR NETWORK Attorneys
Every O-1 petition is reviewed by a handpicked U.S. immigration attorney who is an immigrant.
Fadi Minawi
Managing attorney · 20+ yrs
Lena Nevsky
Extraordinary-talent attorney · 25+ yrs
Uche Nwaneri
Business & immigration law · 25+ yrs
Junoetia Salonga
Extraordinary-talent attorney · 15+ yrs
WHO WE HELP
From Forbes 30u30 to Zimbabwe's First Astronaut, we specialize in breaking down technical achievements into winning O-1 petitions for USCIS officers to understand your craft.
Qin En
Founder
Stealth to Series D, Y Combinator, Techstars and all major accelerators' Founders trust us with their O-1s.
Angel Song
Executive
Successful with Startup leaders and Executives from JP Morgan, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla and more.
Kelvin Ngoc
Engineer
Trusted by Engineers from venture backed startups to F500s. We work with your mobility on O-1 cases and file through your immigration counsel.
Mark Parcevel
Artist
We worked with Lady Gaga & Cardi B's collaborating artist, record holder of the world's largest outdoor mural art, to Reddot Award winner.
Caetano Altafin
Athlete
Our current clients include the first Brazilian to row across the Atlantic, top-flight footballers, to Olympians.
Marvin Tan
Scientist
Our team translated research achievements of biomedical, LiDAR system researchers, and MEMS scientists into O-1 success.
IN THEIR WORDS
Short video testimonials from professionals we helped secure their O-1 visa.
Founder
Founding Team Member
Founding Engineer
Senior Backend Engineer
O-1 VISA GUIDE
An O-1 petition is a story telling exercise based on evidence meeting at least three of the eight applicable criteria below, or qualifying comparable evidence.
The O-1 can give founders, executives, engineers, researchers, product leaders, artists and other accomplished professionals a route to work in the United States without the annual lottery that governs the H-1B. But awards, press articles, a LinkedIn profile and a few recommendation letters do not make a case on their own.
Beyond Border helps you turn your professional achievements into a structured O-1 petition, with support from its network of U.S. immigration attorneys.
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The O-1 is used across a wide range of fields. Four of the most common categories are:
Others who may qualify include AI and machine-learning specialists, product managers, investors, designers, filmmakers, professional athletes and other highly accomplished professionals. The same evidence does not work equally well for everyone, so your case is built around your field, career history, proposed U.S. work and the evidence you actually have.
The O-1 has two main classifications, and choosing the right one is among the first decisions in preparing a case.
USCIS describes extraordinary ability here as a level of expertise showing that you are among the small percentage who have risen to the very top of your field. O-1A is the common route for technology professionals, founders, executives, researchers, scientists, educators and business leaders.
The standard differs. For arts cases, USCIS looks for a level of achievement showing distinction. For motion picture and television cases, it requires a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement.
An O-1 petition is evidence-driven. For most cases, you need evidence meeting at least three of the eight applicable criteria below, or qualifying comparable evidence.
Individual awards, Forbes lists, competition wins, institutional or government grants >US$100,000.
Invitation-only technical societies, selective accelerators, boards.
Press that mentions you. Locally prominent press outlets, podcasts with large audiences.
Conference reviewer, panel, committee of professional bodies relevant to you, competition judge, technical interview committees.
Of major significance - patents, open-source projects traction (GitHub stars), commercial or product traction, published research cited by others.
Authorship of scholarly articles - peer-reviewed publications, white papers, major blog posts cited in academic work, keynote presentations at major industry conferences.
In a distinguished organisation - founding team, department lead, key executive at an institutional-backed company, past or present.
Relative to peers - offer letter, tax returns, salary surveys showing top 5-10% in your field, in where you conducted your role past or present.
Meeting three criteria does not guarantee approval. USCIS evaluates the petition as a whole, which is why an O-1 should never be treated as a checklist.
01
30 minutes free, tailored consultation with our immigration advisor.
02
We map your background against the O-1 criteria and invite you to a 30-minute case strategy session with an O-1 specialist attorney.
03
We guide document collection and ethical profile building, then turn around a file-ready petition within 30 days — or 14 working days with our expedited processing service — all guided by your assigned specialist attorney.
04
Your assigned O-1 specialist attorney reviews the petition and evidence before filing, with your choice of premium or normal USCIS processing.
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USCIS may approve, issue a Request for Evidence, or deny the petition. Once approved, we guide you through the consulate interview with 24-hour response support until you obtain your visa stamp.
As a founder, you can qualify for O-1A when your evidence meets the standard, but being a founder does not by itself establish eligibility. USCIS looks at the same criteria used for any O-1A case: extraordinary ability evidenced through awards, press, judging, original contribution, critical role, high salary, membership or scholarly work.
For founders, the strongest evidence usually centers on the critical role you play at your company, the growth or funding the company has achieved under your leadership, and the press or industry recognition that growth has generated.
If you're an engineer or other technology professional, you often qualify through original contributions of major significance — patents, widely used open-source projects, technical publications, conference judging, or compensation that compares well with peers in your role.
No. The O-1 does not require a traditional employer. It can be filed through a U.S. entity you set up yourself, a company you already lead, or an authorized agent, provided the underlying work and evidence meet the O-1 standard.
Length Of Stay: USCIS can grant you an initial period of up to three years, with extensions generally available in increments of up to one year for as long as your underlying work continues.
Changing Employers: Your O-1 is tied to the petitioning employer or agent. Moving to a new employer or agent generally requires a new O-1 petition before you begin working in the new role.
Family: Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may be eligible for O-3 status. They may study while in the U.S. but cannot work on O-3 status alone.
Your O-1 is a nonimmigrant visa, while EB-1A is an immigrant petition that can lead to a green card. You may later pursue EB-1A once your evidence and career progress support the higher extraordinary-ability standard required for permanent residency.
Profile Strategy
Evidence Mapping
Case Production
Filing Support
RFE Support
Not legal advice. Beyond Border is not a law firm. Legal services are provided by vetted attorneys in its network.
PRICING
Total cost depends on your case, attorney arrangement, USCIS filing requirements and whether you add premium processing.
US$8,000 - 10,000
Varies by case complexity.
US$1,055
For Form I-129 (US$1,005 online; US$530 for small employers and nonprofits), plus the Asylum Program Fee: US$600 for most petitioners, US$300 for small employers and US$0 for nonprofits. Check the USCIS fee calculator before filing.
US$2,965
USCIS action within 15 business days. Does not guarantee approval.
Standard 50% money back guarantee. Terms are set out in your engagement agreement. Beyond Border cannot guarantee a USCIS decision.
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FAQ
What is an O-1 visa?
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A U.S. nonimmigrant classification for people with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, or extraordinary achievement in motion pictures or television.
Is there an O-1 lottery or annual quota?
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No. O-1 petitions are not part of the H-1B lottery, and there is no annual numerical cap.
Do I need a master's degree?
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No. USCIS sets no specific degree requirement. The focus is your extraordinary ability and the supporting evidence.
How many criteria do I need?
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For many cases, evidence meeting at least three criteria, or comparable evidence where permitted. Meeting three does not guarantee approval, because USCIS evaluates the evidence as a whole.
Can I apply without a U.S. employer?
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You need a qualifying petitioner, such as a U.S. employer or agent. An attorney can advise on the right structure.
How much does Beyond Border charge?
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US$8,000-US$10,000, depending on category and complexity. Government fees and premium processing are separate.
Your career may already hold the evidence for an O-1 case. Tell us about your background and get a confidential assessment of what may support your petition.
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Address: 4 W 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, United States
Email: info@beyondborderglobal.com