“Ask Sophie” is a guide that helps people who want to start their own businesses. Some of these people trying to come up with startups come from different countries, but amid their path they face challenges to stay and work in the United States. One way they can do this is by getting an O-1A visa. This special visa is for people who are good at what they do.
Getting an O-1A visa used to take a long time, but now it is faster, only one to two months or even quicker if extra money is paid. With this visa, one can stay in the US for three years and simultaneously can keep extending it for as long as needed. This is better than other visas like H-1Bs and L-1As, which have more rules and limits. With the O-1A visa, one can also work for different companies at the same time.
One don’t always need a company to help in getting the O-1A visa. It can be applied individually or if someone can help in the process.
Even a student can try to get an O-1A visa. It might take time to build up achievements, but one can do it through volunteer work even before finishing school. Many students have succeeded in doing this.
To get the O-1A visa, one don’t have to be super famous. The person just needs to meet at least three out of eight requirements. The requirements include things like winning important awards, getting media coverage, writing for important publications, judging competitions, joining important groups, making big contributions in any specific field, earning good money, and being a key part of a famous company.
