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For those in the thread who struggled for H1B's chance of winning, I'd recommend considering an O1 visa - I think the requirement is slightly lower to apply tha
by bwang29 9y ago
For those in the thread who struggled for H1B's chance of winning, I'd recommend considering an O1 visa - I think the requirement is slightly lower to apply than previous years, and O1 doesn't have a lottery process.
I've stayed in the US as a collage student, then graduate student from a top university then starting my company for a total of 9 years. I lost the H1B lottery twice and have been on F1 then F1-OPT, then F1-OPT-STEM_EXT in the first 8 years. I recently successfully converted into an O1 this year, therefore finally bypassing the H1B lottery. I consider the O1 visa a life saver but not everyone is that lucky to be able to apply. Now the thing is, my O1 visa is a single-entry visa, meaning I have to stay in US for 3 years until it expires and I can't leave the country otherwise I can never come back to this country again.
Edit: Obviously someone found out that O1 is single entry for Chinese nationals, and it might not be the case for most other nationals.
- iraphael 9y agoWhat happens after the O1 expires? It's a non-immigrant visa right? I'm assuming it doesn't mean you get a green card after 3 years, correct?
- the_mitsuhiko 9y agoYou can try to apply for an EB1
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- petethepig 9y agoYou can extend it forever in 1-year increments. O-1 is dual intent. So while you're in the country you can apply for a green card through EB-2/3 (PERM or NIW) or EB-1.
- seanmccann 9y agoAre you from China? I just looked this up and it seems that for Chinese nationals, O-1 is single entry. I believe it's multiple entry for nationals of nearly every other country. It has to do with some US-China reciprocity agreement.
- bwang29 9y agoAh, that's right. I have no idea it is country specific. It is good to know. It confused a whole lot of me the rationale behind single entry O1 visa - it does create a lot of inconvenience as we do have a subsidy in China that I'd wish to be able to travel back to.
- kkapelon 9y agoWho says that O1 is single entry? I do not believe this to be the case.
- bwang29 9y agoJust verified it is single-entry for Chinese nationals.
- keerthiko 9y agoAre you sure your O1 is a single-entry? I have an O1 as well, for about 2 years now, and I have traveled out and in multiple times. Did you get the individual-associated O1 or one sponsored in the name of the employer (your startup)? Edit: just noticed @seanmccann's comment. Dang that sucks. Apply for your EB1 asap! Under the O1, the requirements are pretty colinear, and you can skip the nationality queue that has an 8 year backlog for Chinese citizens on the EB2/3/etc.
- bwang29 9y agoMy company sponsored my O1 and yes I'm a Chinese national. I'm starting my EB1, thanks for the advice!
- pm90 9y agoIsn't EB1 reserved for "exceptional" people? I was under the impression that it was the "famous person" visa.
- bskap 9y agoSo's the O-1. That's why it doesn't have a lottery or cap like the H-1B. Top people in science and engineering qualify for them too, in addition to the top people in athletics and arts (the more traditionally "famous" people).