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The O-1 visa, a US non-immigrant visa for individuals with extraordinary ability, is gaining popularity among Indian professionals in STEM, creative industries, and academia.
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As people from across the globe face several challenges to make it to the United States for work, the O-1 visa is gaining popularity among professionals. The O-1 visa is a specialized US non-immigrant visa for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement.
It is fast becoming a preferred route to the US for Indian professionals too— especially those in STEM fields, creative industries, and academia. It is being touted similar to H-1B visa but “with no lottery system.” Given its high success rate, the O-1 visa is now being seen as an alternative to the increasingly competitive H-1B visa.
What Is O-1 Visa?
The O-1 visa was introduced under the US Immigration Act of 1990 and is granted to individuals who can demonstrate exceptional talent or achievements in science, education, business, athletics (O-1A), or the arts and film (O-1B). To qualify, applicants must meet at least three of eight criteria, which include awards, original contributions, published work, media coverage, and memberships in distinguished organizations.
The O-1 visa is gaining traction among Indian nationals — including cybersecurity experts, AI researchers, filmmakers, athletes, and digital content creators — who are looking for a direct and merit-based pathway to work and live in the U.S.
‘O-1’s Like H-1B Without A Lottery’
The application cost for O-1 visas could range from $10,000 to $30,000. The Economic Times, citing official data from the US Department of State, reported that the number of O-1 visas granted has increased from 8,838 in FY20 to 18,994 in fiscal 2023. ET quoting Sahil Nyati, founder at Jinee Green Card—a US-based immigration consultancy advising on specialised visa categories— reported that “O-1’s like an H-1B without a lottery.”
“There’s definitely higher interest in O-1, simply because it’s like an H-1B without a lottery, although it’s not a piece of cake,” ET quoted Sahil Nyati as saying.
A Growing Trend Among Indian Talent
Notably, the current demand of O-1 visa by professionals has positioned India as the third highest recipient country after Great Britain and Brazil, securing 1,418 O-1 visas in FY23, up from 487 in FY20, data showed.
A notable uptick has been reported in applications, with firms expanding operations to help more candidates explore this underutilized route. The success rate for O-1A applications stands at around 93%, compared to just 37% for H-1B.
Why Employers Are Backing The O-1 Visa?
US tech giants like Google, Tesla, OpenAI, and consulting firms like McKinsey are increasingly open to hiring through the O-1A route. AI growth and fierce global competition for STEM talent are pushing these companies to explore every possible option. Top academic institutions, including Harvard and Columbia, are also seeking to recruit global talent through O-1A visas for faculty and researchers.
Sponsoring an O-1 visa typically costs between $10,000 and $30,000 — significantly more than the $970 to $7,775 cost of an H-1B visa. While legal consultation fess requires additional $2,000 to $5,000.
What Are The Key Differences Between O-1 & H-1B?
- The H-1B visas remain more common, with 225,957 approvals in FY 2024 compared to 22,669 for O-1As.
- O-1A visa application is growing steadily at an annual rate of about 10% while H-1B is witnessing a downward trajectory.
- The absence of a lottery and cap, higher approval rates, and broader eligibility across professions make the O-1 visa an attractive, though more demanding, option for those who qualify.
Amid fierce competition for US work visas, the O-1 is emerging as a powerful tool — especially for career-driven Indian professionals aiming to bypass the limitations of the H-1B system.
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18…Read More
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18… Read More
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