Immigration rules in the U.S. are becoming stricter. However, Indians are still keen on moving to America.
The Donald Trump administration has made it harder to get H-1B and other types of visas. Because of this, Indians are now exploring new ways to enter the U.S.
One such option is the O-1 visa. This visa is meant for people who have outstanding skills in their field. Let’s understand what the O-1 visa is and who can apply for it.
What Is the O-1 Visa and Who Can Apply?
The O-1 visa is for individuals who have extraordinary talent in fields like science, technology, business, arts, or sports.
It is quickly becoming popular among Indian professionals as a strong alternative to the H-1B visa.
Created under the 1990 Immigration Act, the O-1 visa requires applicants to meet at least three out of eight strict criteria.
These include winning major awards, publishing scholarly articles, or making significant contributions in their field.
The visa offers big advantages—there is no annual lottery or cap, it has a high approval rate of 93%, and it is initially valid for three years with unlimited renewals.
O-1 Visa’s Growing Popularity Among Indians
Unlike the H-1B visa, which has only a 37% approval rate and is heavily scrutinized, the O-1 offers highly skilled professionals a more certain route. Data from the U.S.
State Department shows O-1A visa approvals increased from 8,838 in 2020 to 18,994 in 2023, and much of this rise is due to Indian applicants.
Indians Rank Third in O-1A Visa Holders Worldwide
Indian citizens now rank third globally in terms of receiving O-1A visas, after the UK and Brazil.
In 2023, Indians received 1,418 O-1A visas—a massive 191% jump from 487 in 2020.
Many of these are STEM graduates, AI experts, entrepreneurs, and artists who are using this visa to enter the U.S.
O-1 Visa Offers More Benefits to Job Seekers
The demand for O-1 visas is rising rapidly. Both companies and job seekers are benefiting from it. Although the cost of getting an O-1 visa ranges between $10,000
and $30,000—which is 10 times the cost of an H-1B—many still choose it because of its reliability. Immigration firms like Jinee Green Card are also seeing more clients.
Earlier, they had 60 clients, but now they serve 300. After repeated H-1B lottery rejections, more Indians are choosing the O-1 route.
No Minimum Salary or Degree Required
In FY 2024, 22,669 O-1A visas were issued—much fewer than the 225,957 H-1B visas approved. Still, the O-1A visa is growing by about 10% each year.
Experts say this visa is very flexible. There’s no need for a minimum salary or a specific degree.
Instead, applicants can show achievements like international awards or media recognition. In some cases, the visa gets approved within just 10 days.
Top Companies Like Google and Tesla Sponsor O-1 Talent
Big U.S. companies like Google, Tesla, and McKinsey are known to sponsor O-1 visa holders. Top universities like Harvard and Yale also hire Indian faculty through the O-1.
The rise of artificial intelligence has further boosted demand. Many companies now support applicants in building strong credentials—such as publishing papers, giving talks, or filing patents.
For instance, Soundarya Balasubramaniam, a 28-year-old entrepreneur and founder of The Curious Maverick, secured the O-1A visa as a solo founder, proving that even self-employed individuals can benefit from it.
