O-1 Visa Attorneys for Extraordinary Ability
Built a Track Record? The O-1 Visa Turns It Into U.S. Work Authorization.
The O-1 is for people at the top of their field — founders, researchers, engineers, creatives. Faragalla Law maps your evidence to the USCIS criteria and tells you honestly whether your case is ready.
- Startup founders, scientists, engineers, artists, and athletes
- No lottery, no annual cap, approvals in weeks with premium processing
- Honest criteria-by-criteria assessment before you file
Request Your O-1 Case Assessment
Tell us about your field and achievements. We'll map them to the O-1 criteria and reply with a straight answer.
What decides these cases
The O-1 is winnable — if the evidence is framed the way USCIS reads it
You need 3 of 8 criteria — argued, not listed
Awards, press, judging, original contributions, critical roles, high salary, memberships, publications. Most strong professionals technically touch several criteria; petitions fail when the evidence isn't framed to match how officers evaluate each one.
Founders need structure before filing
You can't simply self-petition an O-1 — you need a U.S. petitioner or agent. For founders, the company-as-petitioner setup (ownership, control, agent arrangements) must be structured correctly or the case fails on employment grounds, not merit.
RFEs are the default for thin petitions
USCIS issues Requests for Evidence on a large share of O-1 filings. A petition that anticipates the objections — with a brief that pre-argues comparability and criteria fit — is the difference between weeks and months.
Qualify yourself in 30 seconds
Is the O-1 a fit for your profile?
This service is likely a fit if…
- You've won recognized awards, or your work has been covered in major or trade media
- You've judged others' work, hold memberships that require achievement, or command a high salary
- You've made original contributions — products, research, or methods others use
- You have (or can arrange) a U.S. employer, agent, or your own company to petition
- You lost the H-1B lottery and have a stronger-than-average profile
It's probably not the right fit if…
- You're early-career with no independent recognition yet — we'll tell you what to build first
- You want permanent residence immediately — O-1 is temporary, but it's the classic bridge to EB-1A/NIW
- You have no U.S. work lined up and no agent structure available
Why Faragalla Law
Counsel that pressure-tests your case before the government does
Criteria-first honesty
We assess your profile against the eight criteria before agreeing to file. If you're two criteria short, we tell you what to build and how long it takes — not just take the fee.
Big-firm training, boutique attention
Founding attorney Sam Faragalla trained at Fragomen, one of the world's largest corporate immigration firms, preparing employment petitions to corporate standards.
Founder-literate casework
We handle agent and company petitioner structures for founders and freelancers, itineraries for multi-project work, and the advisory opinion (peer letter) requirement.
Flat-fee clarity
One flat fee for the petition, quoted after your assessment — including RFE response strategy.
How it works
A defined process — you always know the next step
Case assessment
Submit the form. We review your field, achievements, and timing, then reply within one business day with our read and consultation options.
Strategy consultation
We map your evidence to the strongest three-plus criteria, solve the petitioner question (employer, agent, or your company), and set the filing plan.
Petition build
We outline and edit expert letters, assemble exhibits for each criterion, obtain the advisory opinion, and draft a brief that pre-argues the weak points.
Filing and follow-through
We file the I-129 — premium processing gives a decision within 15 business days — handle any RFE, and plan extensions or your longer-term green card path (EB-1A/NIW).
Costs, addressed head-on
What does an O-1 case cost?
O-1 legal fees are flat and depend on evidence readiness and whether an agent or company petitioner structure is needed. Government costs include the I-129 filing fee and optional premium processing. Expect additional cost only if you choose expedited handling. We quote your exact flat fee at the consultation — before you commit.
Client reviews
What clients say
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Your attorney
Sam Faragalla
Founder & Lead Immigration Attorney
Sam Faragalla trained at Fragomen, one of the world's largest corporate immigration firms, before founding Faragalla Law. The firm represents entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, and families in U.S. immigration matters nationwide.
Licensed to practice law in New York. Immigration is federal law, which allows the firm to represent clients in all 50 states and abroad.
Common questions
Questions we answer every week
What are the O-1 visa requirements?
O-1A (sciences, business, education, athletics) requires sustained national or international acclaim shown by a major award or at least three of eight criteria — awards, press, judging, original contributions, scholarly articles, critical roles, high salary, or selective memberships. O-1B covers arts and entertainment with its own distinction standard. You also need a U.S. petitioner and a peer advisory opinion.
Can a startup founder get an O-1 through their own company?
Yes, with the right structure. Your U.S. company can petition for you if the arrangement shows a real employer relationship or a properly papered agent structure is used. USCIS's 2025 guidance explicitly contemplates founder petitions. Getting the corporate and control details right up front is most of the battle — we structure this routinely.
How fast can I get an O-1?
With premium processing, USCIS decides within 15 business days of filing. Preparation is the real timeline — typically four to eight weeks to build letters and exhibits properly. End to end, a prepared case can be approved in under three months; rushed filings that draw RFEs take longer than careful ones.
Is the O-1 better than the H-1B?
Different tools. O-1 has no lottery, no annual cap, no prevailing wage regime, and unlimited extensions — but a much higher evidence bar. If you lost the H-1B lottery or your role doesn't fit H-1B, the O-1 is the main alternative for high-achievers. We'll tell you which category your profile actually supports.
Does the O-1 lead to a green card?
The O-1 itself is temporary, but it's the standard stepping stone: the same evidence base, strengthened during your O-1 years, supports an EB-1A extraordinary ability or EB-2 NIW self-petition. We plan the green card path from the start so your O-1 evidence does double duty.
Can my spouse and children join me?
Yes — O-3 status covers your spouse and unmarried children under 21. O-3 dependents can study in the U.S. but cannot work; if spousal work authorization matters, we factor that into the strategy (for example, timing the green card stage).
Ready when you are
Find out if your track record supports an O-1
One form. One business day. A criteria-by-criteria read on your case.
Request Your O-1 Case Assessment
Tell us about your field and achievements. We'll map them to the O-1 criteria and reply with a straight answer.
Prefer to talk? Call (866) 655-3729 — tell us you're calling about the O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa page.