What Is O-1 Visa, And Why Is it Popular Among Highly Skilled Indians?

Are you also curious about what the O-1 visa for the US is? It’s a new entry scheme that is gaining popularity among Indians who wish to work in the United States. However, it is specially designed for highly skilled individuals in fields like STEM, business, arts, athletics, and more. Here’s all about it.

O-1 US Visa For Extremely Talented Individuals 

As per a report in NDTV, the O-1 visa is now getting a lot of attention from Indian professionals looking for jobs in the US. We all know that getting a US visa is tough, with long queues and more scrutiny, especially after the Trump administration’s immigration rules. That is why the O-1 visa is becoming an alternative to the more common H-1B visa.

This visa is a special non-immigrant visa given to people who possess extraordinary talent in fields of STEM(Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, arts, business, athletics, and even content creation. It was created under the Immigration Act of 1990 and does not involve the lottery system, unlike the H-1B. To apply, the person must prove they are highly skilled or have national or international achievement certificates. That could include major awards, original work in their field, or publications. To qualify, the applicant must meet at least 3 of 8 criteria. Also, O-1 visa applications can typically cost between $10,000(₹8,58,240 approx.) and $30,000 (₹25,74,720 approx.)!

Also Read: New US Visa Policy Requires Students To Make Social Media Profiles Public For Screening

Higher Approval Rate Than H-1B Visa

Unlike the H-1B visa, which has only a 37% approval rate due to strict rules, the O-1 visa has a 93% approval rate. It also gives a 3-year validity with unlimited extensions. Moreover, it does not even ask for a minimum salary or a formal degree. Achievements like international awards or recognition in the media industry can be used to prove your talent, according to NDTV. The only catch? The high application cost and not everyone can afford that.

As per US Department of State data, O-1A visa approvals increased from 8,838 in FY2020 to 18,994 in FY2023. Most applicants were Indians. In FY2023, Indians were the third-highest group to receive O-1A visas, getting 1,418, after the UK and Brazil.

Moreover, this visa is also becoming popular with solo entrepreneurs and even big global companies like Google and Tesla. Aslam Ahmed, partner at Singhania & Co, said that companies like OpenAI, McKinsey, and Google are open to hiring skilled people from India for their US headquarters. He also said top universities in the US, like Harvard, Yale, and Columbia, are hiring highly skilled individuals from India for their faculty roles, as per the report.

Also Read: Skip The Long US Visa Queue By Paying $1000 Fee For A Faster Interview; Here’s How

So, what do you think of the O-1 visa? To get one, you will need to possess extraordinary talent in your field. And also be willing to spend a large amount of money on the application process.

Cover Image Courtesy: Pixabay and Freepik(Representative Image)