H-1B vs O-1 Visa
Which path fits skilled Indian professionals better?
Not prestige. Fit.
Which visa your profile can actually win — at what cost, and with what odds.
H-1B: the accessible route
A specialty job offer + degree gets you into the lottery.
O-1: the merit door
No lottery, no cap. But 'extraordinary ability' needs real evidence.
Lottery vs merit
H-1B can lose on chance alone. O-1 is judged on evidence alone.
Pro tip: build evidence early
Publish, speak, lead open source, keep records.
Don't chase prestige
O-1 without evidence wastes time and money.
Many do both
H-1B first, O-1 later — as your record grows.
Watch the fine print
Sponsors are pickier; green-card backlogs run long.
Read the Guide
Read the Guide